Question : Standard Format for Ration Cards

(a) whether the Government has designed a standard format for ration cards to move ahead with ‘one nation, one ration card’ initiative and has asked the State Governments to follow the pattern while issuing fresh ration cards across the country from 1 June, 2020;

(b) the pilot projects initiated so far and results achieved there from, State-wise along with the funds sanctioned for and spent by each State;

(c) whether it is a fact that under this initiative, the beneficiaries can withdraw his/her ration goods from any fair price shop under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government aims for national portability and it is necessary that ration cards issued by different States and UTs conform to a standard format, if so, the details thereof and progress made, State-wise along with funds sanctioned/spent in this regard?

A N S W E R
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI DANVE RAOSAHEB DADARAO)
(a) to (d): No direction has been given to State Governments/UT Administrations for issue of new ration cards to eligible beneficiaries as per the standard format for implementation of ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ plan. However, for sake of uniformity, they have been suggested to adopt a standard format only when they decide to print/issue new ration cards in future under NFSA.
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The Department in association with State/UT Governments is implementing a scheme on “Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS)” w.e.f. April 2018. This scheme, inter-alia, includes implementation of nation-wide portability of ration card holders covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) to enable the migratory ration card holders/beneficiaries in the country to lift their entitled foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of their choice anywhere in the country by using their existing/same ration card after biometric/Aadhaar authentication on electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices installed at the FPSs, through ''One Nation One Ration Card'' plan.

Presently, the facility of national/inter-State portability under ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ plan is available for beneficiaries of 12 States, namely - Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana and Tripura. Initially, the inter-State/national portability was started in pilot mode in two clusters of two adjoining States of Andhra Pradesh & Telangana and Gujarat & Maharashtra w.e.f. August 2019. Further, two more clusters of two adjoining States namely, Haryana & Rajasthan and Karnataka & Kerala were added w.e.f. October 2019. A statement showing State/UT-wise release of central assistance and utilization by States/UTs thereof under the IM-PDS scheme is annexed.

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ANNXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1426 FOR ANSWER ON 11.02.2020 IN THE LOK SABHA.

Release of fund under the scheme on Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS)

Sr. No Name of State/UT Total funds released to States/UTs Amount of Utilization Certificate (UC) Received

1 Andhra Pradesh 61,83,780
2 Assam 88,80,000
3 Telengana 1,85,17,000 1,85,17,000
4 Manipur 34,41,240
5 Mizoram 25,20,000
6 Nagaland 39,89,460 39,89,460
7 Sikkim 19,57,260 15,60,000
8 Tripura 52,20,000 25,20,000
9 Maharashtra 1,46,01,780
10 Meghalaya 32,40,000
11 Gujarat 1,16,87,640
12 Rajasthan 1,22,02,020
13 Uttar Pradesh 1,80,59,340
14 Himachal Pradesh 44,70,900 12,55,217
15 Arunachal Pradesh 71,59,860
16 Madhya Pradesh 1,71,84,060
17 Chhattisgarh 92,35,200
18 Odisha 1,01,58,360
19 kerala 56,12,100
20 Goa 9,92,070
21 Daman & Diu 9,72,000 9,72,000
22 Jharkhand 90,33,360
23 Karnataka 1,05,87,300
24 Uttarakhand 39,00,620
25 Haryana 76,30,500
26 Dadra & Nagar Haveli 10,11,720
27 Punjab 80,55,420
28 Bihar 1,46,23,020
29 Tamil Nadu 1,24,54,380
Total 23,35,80,390 2,88,13,677



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