One Nation, One Ration Card: Ration Benefits Now Portable Across India

New Delhi: The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme has facilitated more than 233 crore foodgrain portability transactions across the country since its launch in 2019, resulting in the distribution of over 614 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of foodgrains, the Union government said.

The scheme allows beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) to collect their entitled subsidised foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) across India, irrespective of their state of residence. It is particularly aimed at helping migrant workers and their families access ration benefits after relocating for work.

According to the Department of Food and Public Distribution, ONORC is operational in all 36 States and Union Territories and facilitates around 3.27 crore portability transactions every month. The scheme covers 100% of beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).

The government has also expanded digitisation and technology-based monitoring to improve transparency in the Public Distribution System (PDS). As of October 2026, ration card and beneficiary databases have been fully digitised across all States and UTs, covering around 78.65 crore beneficiaries.

Of the 20.51 crore ration cards in the Central System, 20.27 crore, or 98.8%, have been seeded with Aadhaar. Aadhaar seeding covers 76.97 crore beneficiaries, while e-KYC has been completed for 71.52 crore beneficiaries, accounting for 91% of the total, as of September 30, 2026.

Nearly 99.8% of the country’s 5.51 lakh Fair Price Shops are now equipped with electronic Point of Sale (e-PoS) devices. Online foodgrain allocation has been implemented nationwide, while supply chains have been computerised in 31 States and UTs.

Data analytics and Aadhaar-based verification have also been used to identify duplicate and ineligible ration card records. Under the Rightful Targeting initiative, 2.58 crore duplicate or ineligible entries have been deleted, according to the government.

The SARTHAK-PDS framework includes initiatives such as NIRMAL and SAKSHAM to strengthen data analytics, integrate supply-chain information and track foodgrain movement. The SMART-PDS initiative aims to digitally connect ration cards, distribution networks, supply chains and grievance redressal systems.

The government has also introduced the Mera Ration mobile application in 13 languages. The app allows beneficiaries to check monthly entitlements, view transaction history, verify Aadhaar-seeding status, check portability eligibility and locate nearby ration shops using GPS.

The government said these technology-driven reforms, along with nationwide ration portability, are aimed at improving last-mile delivery and ensuring that eligible beneficiaries can access subsidised foodgrains wherever they live or work.