
Ration cards are required for several central government schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) and Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. Under PMUY, eligible women aged 18 and above from poor families get an LPG connection without security deposit. A ration card or another valid government document showing family composition is mandatory for this scheme.

Under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, which provides cashless treatment up to Rs 5 lakh per year to eligible families, a ration card is used for family identification but is not compulsory for every beneficiary. The National Health Authority states that Aadhaar or another valid ID can be used for individual identification. For the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card for senior citizens aged 70 and above, Aadhaar-based e-KYC is the primary document.
Those without a ration card can apply online through their state's Food and Civil Supplies Department website. After submitting the form, applicants must keep the acknowledgement number to check the application status. Eligibility is determined by state governments under the National Food Security Act, 2013, based on family income, employment, and economic condition.
The story clarifies which welfare schemes do and do not mandate a ration card, a distinction that affects millions of households without one. For PMUY, a ration card or an equivalent family document is non-negotiable, while for Ayushman Bharat, other identification is accepted. The unresolved issue is that eligibility criteria and document rules vary by state, so a family that qualifies in one state may be excluded in another. The practical next step for readers without a card is to apply online through their state's food department website and track the application using the reference number.
Source: aajtak.in
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.