Card types
What a ration card is, and the card types
राशन कार्ड क्या है — AAY, PHH, APL, BPL
Last reviewed: 11 November 2026
People search “types of ration card”, “APL BPL AAY PHH”, and “राशन कार्ड क्या है” because the names overlap. The National Food Security Act uses two categories. Many households still say BPL for any subsidised card. The category printed on the card is the one that matters.
AAY and PHH
| Category | Who decides | Central entitlement |
|---|---|---|
| Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) | The state, for the poorest households | 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month |
| Priority Household (PHH) | The state, for the rest of its NFSA coverage | 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month |
AAY is a family quota. Adding a member does not raise the 35 kg. PHH is per person, so the member list changes the quantity. That is why adding a name is a real step. The per-person figure and the free-supply decision are spelled out on the quota page.
The centre allocates grain up to the state depot. The state issues the card and runs the shop. That is why status is always a state portal, with NFSA as the directory.
APL, BPL, and state names
The salient-features page says NFSA coverage is de-linked from the old poverty estimates. Goa’s civil supplies FAQ still describes PHH, AAY, and APL for that state. Kerala searches often ask about card colour. Those codes are local. This guide does not publish a national colour chart.
A non-NFSA card may only identify the household, or it may carry a state-funded commodity. Telangana’s civil supplies department has described a rice scale above the central 5 kg, funded from the state pool. Scales change. The number on your card is the one the shop uses.
The card does not, by itself, let you draw grain in another state. That is One Nation One Ration Card. It also does not replace e-KYC where the state has asked for it.
Related guides
Documents and eligibility for a ration card
Who can get an NFSA ration card in 2026, and which documents states commonly ask for. No single national income limit.
Ration card quota per person
NFSA ration quota: 35 kg per AAY household and 5 kg per PHH person. Free under the 2023 PMGKAY decision through the five-year window. Unofficial guide.
How to apply for a ration card online in 2026
How to apply for a new ration card online in 2026 on your state portal. NFSA does not have one national form. Unofficial guide.
One Nation One Ration Card
What One Nation One Ration Card is, how to use it at a fair price shop, and the official IMPDS and myScheme pages. Unofficial guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is a ration card?
It is the household document for drawing foodgrains from a fair price shop. Under the National Food Security Act the centre allocates grain for Antyodaya Anna Yojana and Priority Household cards. States issue the cards.
राशन कार्ड क्या है?
Yeh ghar ka PDS document hai. Isi se ration ki dukan par anaj milta hai. AAY aur PHH NFSA ki categories hain. APL aur BPL purane naam hain, jo kuch states ab bhi print karte hain.
What is NFSA full form?
National Food Security Act, 2013. The overview is on nfsa.gov.in. It is the law behind the central AAY and PHH entitlements, not a website that issues your card.
What is an AAY ration card?
Antyodaya Anna Yojana covers the poorest households identified by the state. The entitlement is 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month.
What is a PHH ration card?
Priority Household is the other NFSA category. The entitlement is 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month. The state decides who is included inside its coverage cap.
Are APL and BPL still valid?
They are the older targeted-PDS labels. NFSA coverage is not based on those poverty estimates. Some states still issue an APL, BPL, or non-priority card for a state scheme. The grain on that card, if any, is set by the state.