The Centre has designed a standard format for ration cards as it moves ahead with 'one nation, one ration card'initiative and has asked state governments to follow the pattern while issuing fresh ration cards. Currently, the central government's ambitious initiative is being implemented on a pilot basis in a cluster of six states. It wants to implement this facility across the country from June 1, 2020. Under this initiative, eligible beneficiaries would be able to avail their entitled food-grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA)from any Fair Price Shop in the country using the same ration card. The states have also been told to have a 10-digit standard ration card number, wherein first two digits will be state code and the next two digits will be running ration card numbers.
