Delhi Resumes New Ration Card Issuance After 13 Years, 7.7 Lakh Slots Open

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday announced that the process of issuing new ration cards has resumed on a large scale from May 15, ending a wait of nearly 13 years.

Addressing a press conference at the Delhi Secretariat, she urged eligible and needy families to apply and said the Delhi Government is implementing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Antyodaya vision to ensure that welfare benefits reach those who genuinely need them the most.

The Chief Minister said online applications for new ration cards and for adding family members have been opened through the e-District portal from May 15. Older applications submitted in the past have also been returned to applicants through their login profiles.

Applicants can update and resubmit them with a valid family income certificate and other required documents.

Chief Minister Gupta said the government carried out a comprehensive audit of the public distribution system after assuming office, which uncovered large-scale irregularities.

What Is the Status of Pending Delhi Ration Card Applications and Fresh Eligibility Norms?

A total of 7,71,384 ineligible and bogus beneficiaries were identified. Of these, 6,46,123 beneficiaries were found to be above the prescribed income limit and therefore ineligible for subsidised ration.

Another 95,682 beneficiaries had not availed a ration for more than a year. In 6,185 cases, the names of deceased persons continued to remain on ration records, while 23,394 beneficiaries were found to be drawing benefits from multiple locations, according to an official release.

With these ineligible names removed, nearly 7.72 lakh vacancies have opened up in the system, paving the way for new eligible beneficiaries to receive ration cards, it further added.

The Chief Minister said 3,72,367 applications for new ration cards and 99,501 applications for inclusion of family members are currently pending.

Since applicants' residence, income and eligibility status may have changed over time, all applicants will be given an opportunity to apply afresh under the latest eligibility norms.

CM Rekha Gupta said the Delhi Government has implemented the Delhi Food Security Rules, 2026, giving effect to the provisions of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.

As part of the reforms, ration distribution has been modernised through extensive use of technology.

Traditional weighing machines at fair-price shops are being replaced with electronic weighing machines, while biometric authentication has been made mandatory.

Ration will no longer be distributed without biometric verification, a move aimed at eliminating complaints of under-weighing and reducing leakages.

(With inputs from ANI)