Delhi BJP Government Increases Ration Card Income Limit Significantly

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced a major change in the ration card policy, saying that families with an annual income of up to Rs 2.5 lakh will soon become eligible for ration cards in Delhi. The move is aimed at expanding the benefits of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and ensuring that more low-income families can access subsidized food grains under government welfare schemes. Speaking at a press conference, CM Rekha Gupta said the proposal to increase the income limit has already been discussed in the cabinet and is expected to receive approval soon. Earlier, the annual income limit for ration cards was Rs 1 lakh, which was later raised to Rs 1.20 lakh. Now, the Delhi government plans to more than double the limit to Rs 2.5 lakh, allowing a much larger section of needy citizens to benefit from the scheme. The Chief Minister also highlighted that for nearly 13 years, many deserving residents struggled to obtain ration cards despite repeated applications and visits to government offices. According to the government, several eligible people were left out of the system under the previous setup. At the same time, the Delhi government carried out a large-scale audit of existing ration card holders after the BJP government came to power. During this verification process, over 7.72 lakh ineligible beneficiaries were identified and removed from the scheme. Officials found that around 1.44 lakh cardholders exceeded the prescribed income limit, nearly 35,000 beneficiaries had never collected ration, and about 19,000 beneficiaries were already deceased. The government claims this cleanup will help ensure that only genuine and eligible families receive benefits under the Prime Minister’s Antyodaya Yojana and other food security programs. CM Rekha Gupta also informed that applications for new ration cards started on the online portal from May 15. The entire process — from application submission to ration distribution — has now been fully digitalized to improve transparency and reduce misuse. Under the newly implemented Food Security Rules 2026, eligible residents can apply for ration cards from centers located near their homes. The government further stated that around 3.72 lakh pending applicants from previous years will now need to reapply through the new digital system. Officials believe the updated verification process will reduce irregularities that earlier occurred because income certificates were accepted on a self-declaration basis.