The Delhi government has announced a significant proposal to expand access to subsidised food benefits by increasing the annual income eligibility threshold for ration cards in the national capital. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta recently stated that the government intends to raise the income ceiling from the current ₹1.2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh per annum.
This revision, which awaits Cabinet approval, is designed to bring a larger number of low and middle-income families under the public distribution system (PDS). The government's rationale is to broaden coverage for households grappling with rising expenses and inflationary pressures in Delhi, ensuring that deserving beneficiaries are not excluded from welfare schemes.
Simultaneous Audit and New Card Issuance
Alongside the proposed increase in the income cap, the Delhi government has concluded a large-scale audit of existing ration card holders. This verification exercise led to the cancellation of approximately 7.72 lakh cards identified as invalid.
- Income Exceedance: Around 1.44 lakh individuals were found to exceed the previous income limits.
- Non-Collection: Nearly 35,800 beneficiaries had stopped collecting their rations.
- Deceased Individuals: 29,580 cards belonged to deceased individuals.
- Duplicate Entries: 23,394 duplicate entries were identified.
Officials emphasized that this audit aims to enhance transparency and ensure that food subsidies reach genuinely eligible households.
The government also highlighted that fresh ration cards had not been issued in Delhi for nearly 13 years. The process for issuing new ration cards has now resumed through Delhi’s e-District portal. Authorities confirm that online applications are currently being accepted for both new ration cards and requests to add family members. Since the portal reopened, the Department of Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs has received 487 fresh applications, with volumes expected to increase as document verification proceeds under the revised norms.
Eligibility Criteria and Support
Under the updated framework, eligibility rules have been tightened to ensure equitable distribution. Certain categories of individuals and households will remain ineligible for ration cards:
- Residents of A-E category colonies.
- Government employees.
- Income-tax payers.
- Owners of four-wheelers.
- Households with electricity connections exceeding 2 KW.
To assist applicants with the registration process, the department has activated a helpline number, 1967. Additionally, the government has begun returning long-pending and incomplete applications to users’ e-District accounts, allowing for corrections and resubmission. It has also been made mandatory for all family members to have Aadhaar, and only online applications will be accepted.