e-Ration Card: What It Is and How to Get One
An e-ration card is a digital copy of your state-issued ration card. Some states issue it into DigiLocker; others let you view and print details on their portal. Validity depends on your state.
- What it is
- A digital form of your state ration card
- Confirmed DigiLocker issuers
- Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Puducherry
- Mera Ration app
- Official NIC app; e-card feature not officially confirmed
- Validity
- Depends on your state; ask your food department
- Ration at the shop
- Given after Aadhaar authentication on ePoS
"e-Ration card" (ई-राशन कार्ड) is a loose term. People use it for three different things: a ration card issued into DigiLocker by a state department, a details page printed from a state portal, and the card view some guides say is shown in the Mera Ration app. These are not the same, and they are not equally official.
This explainer sorts out what each one is, which states are confirmed, and what is still unclear. We are an independent guide, not a government website. We do not issue or download e-ration cards and we never ask for your card number, Aadhaar or OTP.
Three things called an e-ration card
| Type | Issued by | How official is it? |
|---|---|---|
| DigiLocker ration card | Your state food department, pushed into your DigiLocker account | An issued document from the state department. Confirmed only for some states. |
| Portal printout | Your state ration card portal | A copy of the details held by the state. It may not be treated as a new card. |
| Mera Ration app view | Central NIC app for One Nation One Ration Card | The app is official. An e-card view is mentioned only by third-party guides. |
Which states issue ration cards in DigiLocker?
Ration cards in DigiLocker are issued by individual state departments, not by a single central issuer. These states have been confirmed through DigiLocker posts or reports:
- Rajasthan: Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department (around December 2021)
- Meghalaya (around May 2022)
- Uttar Pradesh (reported 24 July 2022)
- Maharashtra (around July 2022)
- Puducherry (around August 2023)
Other states, for example Kerala or Delhi, are not confirmed. The complete issuer list could not be checked, so search for your state in DigiLocker to see if a ration card is offered. If you are in UP, our UP download guide gives the reported DigiLocker steps.
हिंदी में सारांश
ई-राशन कार्ड आपके राज्य द्वारा जारी राशन कार्ड का डिजिटल रूप है। कुछ राज्य इसे डिजिलॉकर में जारी करते हैं। राजस्थान, मेघालय, उत्तर प्रदेश, महाराष्ट्र और पुडुचेरी की पुष्टि हुई है, बाकी राज्यों की पूरी सूची पक्की नहीं है। डिजिलॉकर में अपने राज्य का खाद्य विभाग खोजें, राशन कार्ड चुनें, विवरण भरें और दस्तावेज़ प्राप्त करें। मेरा राशन ऐप NIC का आधिकारिक ऐप है, पर इसमें ई-कार्ड की सुविधा की आधिकारिक पुष्टि नहीं है। डिजिटल कॉपी कहां मान्य है, यह राज्य पर निर्भर है, इसलिए अपने खाद्य विभाग से पूछें। राशन दुकान पर राशन आधार सत्यापन से मिलता है। हर पांच साल में ई-केवाईसी ज़रूरी है। किसी को OTP न दें। यह वेबसाइट सरकारी नहीं है।
How to get an e-ration card from DigiLocker
- Open digilocker.gov.in or install the DigiLocker app from the official store.
- Sign in with your own mobile number and Aadhaar.
- Search for your state's food and civil supplies department.
- Choose "Ration Card" if it is listed.
- Fill the details asked, usually the ration card number and sometimes the district.
- Look for "Get Document". The card should appear under "Issued Documents".
These steps are based on third-party guides. Labels may change. If your state is not listed, use your state portal instead. Our ration card download guide lists state portals from nfsa.gov.in.
Does the Mera Ration app give an e-ration card?
The Mera Ration app is the official One Nation One Ration Card app by the National Informatics Centre, with over 10 million downloads on Google Play. It was launched on 12 March 2021, and Mera Ration 2.0 followed on 20 August 2024, as reported. Official features include entitlement details, nearby fair price shops, recent transactions, migrant registration and the status of requests.
Some third-party guides list an e-card view and download in the app. This is not officially confirmed, and it may differ by state. Try it if you have the app, but do not depend on it as your only copy.
Is an e-ration card valid?
There is no single national rule we could confirm. A card fetched from DigiLocker comes from the state department, so it is the strongest digital option where available. A portal printout is a copy of records. Whether a shop, office or bank accepts a digital or printed copy depends on your state and on who is asking. Ask your state food department or supply office.
For getting ration itself, the card copy matters less than you might think. Under the Aadhaar-based system, ration is issued after biometric or Aadhaar authentication on the ePoS machine at the shop. Under One Nation One Ration Card, you can use your existing card number at any fair price shop in India.
Keep your e-ration card working
- Do e-KYC on time. Under the TPDS (Control) Amendment Order, 2025, e-KYC is mandatory every five years. You can do it at any fair price shop, or through the official Mera eKYC app where your state allows it. In UP, see our e-KYC guide.
- Lift ration regularly. Cards with no grain lifted for 6 months are temporarily disabled until verification.
- Check your record. Use the status check guide and the ration card list guide.
Avoid fake e-ration card offers
Fake websites and apps offer to "make" or "download" an e-ration card for a fee. Real e-ration cards are issued only by state departments. Do not share an OTP or Aadhaar number with callers or unknown sites. Install apps only from the official listings linked below and check the developer is National Informatics Centre. You do not need to pay anyone to fetch your own card from DigiLocker.
Frequently asked questions
What is an e-ration card?
It is a digital version of the ration card your state issued. The most official form is a card issued by your state food department into your DigiLocker account. People also use the term for a details page printed from a state portal, or a card view in the Mera Ration app.
E ration card kaise download kare?
If your state issues ration cards in DigiLocker, sign in to DigiLocker, search your state food department, choose Ration Card, fill the card details and get the document. If not, open your state ration card portal from nfsa.gov.in and print the details shown there.
Which states give ration cards in DigiLocker?
Confirmed issuers include Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Puducherry, based on DigiLocker posts and reports from 2021 to 2023. The full list could not be confirmed, so search for your state in DigiLocker to check.
Is a digital ration card valid everywhere?
No national rule was confirmed. A DigiLocker card is issued by the state department, so it is the strongest digital form. Whether an office or shop accepts a digital or printed copy depends on your state and the purpose. Ask your state food department.
Do I need an e-ration card to get ration?
Not usually. Ration is issued after Aadhaar authentication on the ePoS machine at the fair price shop. Under One Nation One Ration Card, you can lift grain at any fair price shop in India using your existing card. Keep your e-KYC up to date.
Is the Mera Ration app official?
Yes. The Mera Ration app on Google Play (com.nic.onenationonecard) is developed by the National Informatics Centre for One Nation One Ration Card. It shows entitlement, nearby shops and transactions. An e-card download in the app is mentioned by third-party guides but not officially confirmed.
Sources: DigiLocker post on X (about Dec 2021) · DigiLocker post on X (about May 2022) · DigiLocker post on X (about Jul 2022) · DigiLocker post on X (about Aug 2023) · UP issuing ration cards through DigiLocker · Tribune: Mera Ration app launch. Checked 14 October 2026. Rules change: always confirm on the official portal.