One Nation One Ration Card records over 233 crore portability transactions since launch

New Delhi, Nov 12: The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme has recorded over 233 crore inter-state and intra-state portability transactions since its inception, distributing more than 614 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of foodgrains, according to information shared by the Department of Food and Public Distribution on Thursday.

Launched in 2019, ONORC is a major reform of the Public Distribution System (PDS), enabling beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) to access their entitled foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) across the country without requiring a new ration card.

The scheme has been implemented across all 36 States and Union Territories, covering 100 per cent of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) beneficiaries. It facilitates approximately 3.27 crore portability transactions every month.

The initiative is aimed at supporting migrant workers and their families by ensuring access to subsidised foodgrains wherever they reside, while strengthening PDS access for NFSA beneficiaries across the country.

The government has complemented ration portability with digital authentication, data-driven targeting and technology-enabled distribution to improve transparency and last-mile delivery.

As of October 2026, ration card and beneficiary databases have been 100 per cent digitised across all States and Union Territories, covering around 78.65 crore beneficiaries. These databases are accessible through the public transparency portals of States and Union Territories.

Of the 20.51 crore ration cards in the Central System, 98.8 per cent, or 20.27 crore, have been Aadhaar-seeded. The total number of beneficiaries seeded with Aadhaar stands at 76.97 crore. As of September 30, 2026, e-KYC had been completed for 71.52 crore beneficiaries, accounting for 91 per cent of the total.

Transparency portals, online grievance systems and toll-free helplines are operational across all States and Union Territories. Online foodgrain allocation has been implemented nationwide, while supply chains have been computerised in 31 States and Union Territories.

Out of a total of 5.51 lakh Fair Price Shops, 99.8 per cent, or 5.50 lakh, are operational with electronic Point of Sale (e-PoS) devices.

Under the Rightful Targeting initiative, Aadhaar and PDS data analytics flagged 5.95 crore suspicious records, leading to the deletion of 2.58 crore duplicate or ineligible entries under Rightful Targeting Version 1. The information also mentions that Rightful Targeting Version 3 flagged 63 lakh records, of which 68 lakh were deleted.

Under the Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS (SARTHAK-PDS), initiatives such as NIRMAL and SAKSHAM are aimed at strengthening data architecture, analytics and real-time data integration, including Vehicle Location Tracking Systems, from procurement to distribution.

The SARTHAK-PDS scheme provides financial support for intra-State movement, handling and Fair Price Shop dealer margins. It also aims to create a unified, citizen-centric and interoperable PDS architecture, ensure last-mile delivery, minimise leakages and strengthen food security under NFSA. The scheme is scheduled to continue until March 31, 2031.

The Scheme for Modernisation and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System (SMART-PDS), under the SARTHAK-PDS umbrella, digitally integrates ration cards, distribution, supply chains and grievance redressal, while addressing technology gaps at the State and Union Territory levels through an integrated central system.

As part of technology-driven reforms, the Department has also launched the Mera Ration mobile application, which is available in 13 languages. The app enables beneficiaries to check monthly foodgrain entitlements, view past transaction details, verify Aadhaar-seeding status, check eligibility for national portability, register voluntarily for ONORC and locate nearby Fair Price Shops using GPS.

The application also provides map-based navigation to the nearest Fair Price Shop, helping beneficiaries, particularly migrants, locate shops and access their foodgrain entitlements in a new area.

The department said ONORC has made foodgrain access portable, nationwide and technology-enabled. Along with digitised beneficiary databases, e-PoS-enabled Fair Price Shops, the SARTHAK-PDS framework and the Mera Ration app, the initiative is aimed at making the system more transparent, integrated and beneficiary-centric.