APL Ration Card: Everything You Need to Know

Komal Bajpai

Author

Updated: 28-01-2025 at 7:47 AM

The APL (Above Poverty Line) Ration Card is an important document under India’s PDS that helps distribute food and other necessities at a cheaper rate to families. It also enables access to several other government-aided schemes and subsidies for food and monetary needs provided the family has a regular income above the poverty line.

Explore the facts about the APL Ration Card, the requirements for acquiring it, the privileges it offers, and the procedures for applying for it.

Also Read: Ration Card Complete 2024 Guide

Overview

Aspect	Details
Target Group	Families with income above the poverty line.
Key Benefits	Subsidised food grains, LPG subsidies, and access to welfare schemes.
Issuing Authority	State Government.
Application Process	Through Food and Supply Offices or online state portals.
Verification	Includes residential and income verification by local authorities.

What Is An APL Ration Card?

An APL (Above Poverty Line) Ration Card is issued to families whose income is above the poverty line set by the government. It serves as proof of eligibility to access subsidised essential commodities through the Public Distribution System (PDS). These commodities often include rice, wheat, sugar, and kerosene, ensuring food security for families not covered under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.

Objectives

The APL Ration Card ensures food security for families above the poverty line by providing subsidised access to essential commodities and enabling inclusion in welfare schemes.

To ensure that food is available always for families whose income is stable to average.
The government needs to fund it completely to offer consumers affordable prices for basic goods.
This ensures that only deserving families get benefits, while others who don’t qualify are excluded, making the system fair and efficient.

Also Read: Correction In Ration Card | Update Name, Address, Check KYC and Status

Benefits

The benefits of above poverty line (APL) ration card are nice and useful such as the supply of essential food grain to its cardholder and much more:-

Entitlement to take home food grains namely rice, wheat, and sugar at a lower government-regulated price through Fair Price Shops.
Subsidised LPG under this which is referred to as Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) scheme.
The right to free health care services, education, availing of any Social Security programmes, etc.
Financial assistance for buying the necessities of life.

What Is The Eligibility Criteria For Getting An APL Ration Card?

Families must have a regular income above the poverty line and should not possess any other Ration Cards. To be eligible for an APL Ration Card, families must meet the following conditions:

Have a regular income above the poverty line.
Should not hold a BPL, ANTODAYA or ANNAPURNA Ration card.

Also Read: Complete Your Ration Card e-KYC Before February 2025.

Application Process For The APL Ration Card

Applicants can obtain and submit the form at Food and Supply Offices or online state portals, followed by a verification process to issue the ration card.

Step 1: Collect the Application Form.

It can be obtained from the nearest Food and Supply Office (FSO) or the official website of the state government.

Step 2: Fill out the Form.

This should give a true account of the head of the family, the members, the address and the source of their income.

Step 3: Attach Required Documents.

Enclose all relevant documents, identity documents, proof of address, proof of income and photographs.

Step 4: Submit the Form. Enclosed completed form and documents with the nearest FSO.

Step 5: Verification Process.

They confirm the given details, perhaps with a home visit plus an independent records cheque locally.

Step 6: Issuance of the Card.

Finally, the APL Ration Card with the family details and validity specifics is distributed on confirmation.

List Of Documents Required For The APL Ration Card

The types of documents required to be eligible and the processing of the APL Ration Card application process are as follows

Type	Name
Proof of Identity	Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, PAN Card, Passport, etc.
Proof of Address	Aadhaar Card or Utility Bills/Electricity Bills
Proof of Income	Salary slips, bank statements, or income tax returns.
Photographs	Passport-sized photos of all family members.

Conclusion

Doubling up as an identification proof and as an official format to avail the food grains and government-related welfare schemes, families lying marginally above the poverty line need the APL Ration Card.

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