The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme, launched in 2019 by the Department of Food and Public Distribution, is a major reform of the Public Distribution System (PDS). It enables nationwide portability of ration cards, allowing beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) to access their entitled foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) across the country without obtaining a new ration card.
The initiative uses technology to make foodgrain entitlements portable across States and Union Territories, particularly benefiting migrant workers and their families. It aims to ensure continued access to subsidised foodgrains irrespective of where beneficiaries reside or work.
Nationwide Implementation and Portability Milestones
ONORC has been implemented across all 36 States and Union Territories, covering 100 per cent of beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
The scheme facilitates approximately 3.27 crore portability transactions every month. Since its launch, it has recorded more than 233 crore inter-State and intra-State portability transactions, resulting in the distribution of over 614 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of foodgrains.
Technology-driven Reforms to Strengthen PDS Delivery
The government has complemented ration portability with digital authentication, data analytics and technology-enabled distribution systems to improve transparency, beneficiary identification and last-mile delivery.
Digitisation and Aadhaar Seeding: As of October 2026, ration card and beneficiary databases have been fully digitised across all States and Union Territories, covering around 78.65 crore beneficiaries. The databases are accessible through the respective States’ and UTs’ public transparency portals.
Of the 20.51 crore ration cards in the Central System, 20.27 crore, or 98.8 per cent, have been seeded with Aadhaar. The total number of beneficiaries whose Aadhaar details have been seeded 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.
Grievance Redressal: Transparency portals, online grievance redressal systems and toll-free helplines are operational across all States and Union Territories.
Computerised Supply Chain: Online foodgrain allocation has been implemented nationwide, while supply chain operations have been computerised in 31 States and Union Territories.
e-PoS-enabled Fair Price Shops: Of the 5.51 lakh Fair Price Shops across the country, 5.50 lakh, or 99.8 per cent, are operational with electronic Point of Sale (e-PoS) devices.
Rightful Targeting and De-duplication: Aadhaar-based authentication and PDS data analytics have been used to identify suspicious beneficiary records and remove duplicate or ineligible entries. Under Rightful Targeting Version 1, 5.95 crore suspicious records were flagged, leading to the deletion of 2.58 crore duplicate or ineligible entries. Under Version 3, 63 lakh records were flagged and 68 lakh entries were deleted, according to the figures provided.
SARTHAK-PDS: Strengthening Supply Chain Management
Under the Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS (SARTHAK-PDS), initiatives such as NIRMAL and SAKSHAM aim to strengthen data management, analytics and real-time monitoring across the foodgrain supply chain.
NIRMAL focuses on strengthening data architecture and analytics, while SAKSHAM supports real-time data integration, including the use of Vehicle Location Tracking Systems, from procurement to distribution.
SARTHAK-PDS provides financial assistance for intra-State foodgrain transportation and handling, as well as margins for Fair Price Shop dealers. It also seeks to establish a unified, citizen-centric and interoperable PDS architecture to improve last-mile delivery and minimise leakages. The scheme is scheduled to continue until March 31, 2031.
SMART-PDS: The Scheme for Modernisation and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System (SMART-PDS), under the SARTHAK-PDS framework, aims to digitally integrate ration cards, foodgrain distribution, supply chain management and grievance redressal. It also addresses technology-related gaps at the State and Union Territory levels through an integrated central system.
Mera Ration App: Access to Services at the Fingertips
As part of technology-driven reforms under ONORC, the Department of Food and Public Distribution launched the Mera Ration mobile application. Available in 13 languages, the app enables beneficiaries to access ration-related information and services.
Its key features include:
• Checking monthly foodgrain entitlements.
• Viewing previous transaction details.
• Verifying Aadhaar-seeding status.
• Checking eligibility for nationwide portability.
• Voluntarily registering for ONORC.
• Locating nearby Fair Price Shops through GPS.
• Navigating to the nearest FPS using map-based services.
The application is particularly useful for migrant beneficiaries, helping them locate ration shops in new locations and access their entitled foodgrains.
Towards Inclusive and Dignified Food Security
ONORC has made the Public Distribution System more accessible by enabling beneficiaries to draw their foodgrain entitlements from Fair Price Shops across the country. Its implementation in all 36 States and Union Territories, along with the growing volume of portability transactions, highlights its role in strengthening food security for migrant and other eligible households.
Supported by digitised beneficiary databases, Aadhaar-based authentication, e-PoS-enabled ration shops, the SARTHAK-PDS framework and the Mera Ration app, the initiative is aimed at making the PDS more transparent, integrated and beneficiary-centric.
Together, these measures seek to strengthen last-mile delivery and ensure that eligible beneficiaries can access their food security entitlements wherever they live or work.
-PIB
