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Under the antyodaya anna yojana, each card holding household gets 35 kg of foodgrains every month from the ration shop, and since the start of free distribution this grain costs the family nothing. The quantity is fixed per family, not per person, so a family of two and a family of seven both receive 35 kg.
AAY is the top tier of the public distribution system set up under the National Food Security Act. It is meant for the very poorest homes in each state. The Department of Food and Public Distribution sets the rules, and the state food and civil supplies department picks the families, prints the cards and runs the fair price shops.
At a glance
Run by
Department of Food and Public Distribution, with state food departmentsBenefit
35 kg foodgrains per household per monthPrice
Free of cost under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna YojanaWho qualifies
Poorest households picked by the state from set categoriesCard
AAY ration card issued by the statePortability
Ration can be drawn at any fair price shop in IndiaOfficial portal
How the antyodaya anna yojana ration works
AAY households are listed separately from ordinary priority households. A priority household gets 5 kg of grain per member per month, while an AAY household gets a flat 35 kg for the whole family. The mix of rice, wheat or coarse grain depends on what your state supplies.
The Union Cabinet decided to give this grain free to both AAY and priority households, and later extended free supply for five years from the start of that period. No price may be charged for the grain itself. Some states charge a small amount for other items like sugar, pulses or salt sold through the same shop, and those rules differ by state.
Which families are chosen
The state identifies AAY families using categories laid down by the Centre. A household may be picked if it falls in any of these groups:
- Landless farm labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans and craftsmen such as potters, weavers, blacksmiths and carpenters.
- Slum dwellers and people who earn daily in the informal sector, such as porters, rickshaw pullers, cart pullers and street vendors.
- Households headed by a widow, a terminally ill person, a person with a disability, or someone aged 60 or more who has no assured income or family support.
- Single men or women with no family or social support.
- All primitive tribal households.
- Eligible BPL families of persons living with HIV.
The number of AAY families is fixed for each state. When the quota is full, a new name usually gets in only when an old entry is removed after verification.
Getting an AAY card
- Ask at the gram panchayat, the block supply office, or the ward office in a town whether new AAY names are being taken, and get the ration card form.
- Fill in the head of the family, ideally the eldest woman, and list every member with Aadhaar numbers.
- Attach proof of residence, Aadhaar of all members, any income or caste certificate, and a disability, widow or age proof if that is your category.
- Submit at the supply office, the CSC centre or the state food portal if your state accepts online forms.
- The inspector checks the home. The name may also be read out at the gram sabha.
- If approved, the card is printed and linked to your local fair price shop.
If your state quota is full, the office may put your name on a waiting list or issue a priority household card instead.
Documents for the ration card form
| Paper | Use |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar of each family member | Biometric check at the ration shop |
| Address proof | Links you to a local shop |
| Income certificate or BPL proof | Shows the family is poor |
| Widow, disability or age certificate | Supports the special category |
| Old ration card, if any | Must be surrendered to avoid two cards |
| Bank passbook | Some states pay cash support to card holders |
Drawing ration anywhere in India
Under the One Nation One Ration Card system, an AAY family can draw its grain from any fair price shop in the country with a biometric check on the electronic point of sale machine. A migrant worker can collect part of the quota in the city while the rest of the family takes the balance at home. Your Aadhaar must be seeded with the ration card for this to work.
Ration problems and what to do
| At the ration shop | Usual cause | Your next step |
|---|---|---|
| Shop gives less than 35 kg | Short weighing or wrong card type in the system | Ask for the printed receipt, then complain to the supply inspector |
| Thumb does not match | Worn fingerprints | Ask for iris or OTP authentication, or let another listed member collect |
| Card shows as cancelled | Not used for months or e-KYC pending | Complete e-KYC at the shop and apply for revival at the supply office |
| Charged money for grain | Shop breaking the free supply rule | Report it on the state food helpline |
Each state has a food helpline and an online complaint page; you can find yours through the state links on nfsa.gov.in.
Other support for AAY families
Being on the AAY list often helps with other welfare forms, because many states treat it as proof of poverty. Read our guides to the free grain under PMGKAY, the Ujjwala gas connection and the old age pension. Every central scheme we cover appears on our PM yojana list.
Frequently asked questions
How much grain does an AAY card give?
35 kg of foodgrains per household per month, whatever the size of the family. The grain is free under the current central decision.
Is the antyodaya anna yojana ration really free?
Yes, the Union government made grain free for AAY and priority households and extended this for five years. Other items sold at the shop may still carry a price set by the state.
Can I change from a priority card to an AAY card?
Only if your family fits an AAY category and the state has room in its fixed quota. Apply at the block supply office with proof of your category.
What if my AAY card was cancelled?
Ask the supply office for the reason. Cards are often cancelled when ration is not drawn for a long time or e-KYC is pending, and they can usually be revived after verification.
Who decides which families get AAY?
The state government, using the central categories. The gram panchayat or ward office often helps identify families and the list may be read in the gram sabha.
Official sources
- National Food Security portalnfsa.gov.in
- PIB: Free foodgrains for five years, Cabinet decisionwww.pib.gov.in
- PIB: Antyodaya Anna Yojana categorieswww.pib.gov.in
Rules, amounts and portals can change. Check the official source before you apply or deposit.