Ration cards are an official document authorizing the holder to provide a ration of food, fuel or other goods issued by the Government of India. They are mainly used in the purchase of subsidized foods (wheat, rice, sugar) and kerosene. The letters have been used since World War II and their use continues into the 21st century. They are an important subsistence tool for the poor, providing evidence of identity and a connection to government databases. India's public distribution system (PDS) is based on the ration card, which it uses to establish identity, eligibility and entitlement.
Ration cards are voluntary in India; are needed to obtain subsidized food and fuel. Eligibility for Antyodaya, BPL and APL ration cards is based on the family's economic status. To obtain an APL or BPL in the state of Delhi, the applicant must submit: two copies of a photograph of the head of the family (HoF); proof of identity and address and a fee of ₹ 25, along with the old ration card, if any. The process usually takes a month.
The state of Karnataka accepts only ration card applications online under the e-governance initiative; the paper application system has become obsolete. Applicants must upload PDF copies of proof of identity, age, address and income (the Certificate of Income is used to identify the category of the ration card to be assigned). They are recognized by appointment. On the day of the appointment, the applicant and all family members visit the ration registration office with originals of their documents loaded for verification and collection of biometric data, including photographs and fingerprints of all family members. The physical verification of the information is done at the address of the address. Eligible ration cards of the applicant are issued in one month by the district provision office (DSO). The status of the application can be checked online. All front-end records, biometric data collection, and physical home verification are performed by private firms designated by DSO under the PPP (Public Private Partnership) model for efficiency reasons.