Karnataka Ration Card: The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department of the Government of Karnataka issues ration cards to citizens in the state. Citizens can visit the official website to apply online for a ration card, make modifications to a ration card, check application status and download their ration card using the official website of the Karnataka government. The official website to apply for a Karnataka Ration Card is ahara.kar.nic.in, which can be accessed for submitting online applications for ration cards in Karnataka. The ration card is a government document that guarantees free rations to BPL, APL and other low-income families. Read below to learn all the details about the Karnataka Ration Card 2025.
Details of Karnataka Ration Card
The government of Karnataka issues ration cards to its citizens under four programmes which are (1) Below Poverty Line (2) Annapurna Yojana (3) Antyodaya Anna Yojana and (4) Above Poverty Line. Ration cards for the said programmes are issued by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, government of Karnataka. With the help of a ration card citizens receive free rations per month from the government at fair price shops. Moreover, a ration card also helps citizens in applying for welfare schemes run by the state and central government. Free rations per head in a family are distributed to those households who have a Karnataka Ration Card. Online applications are invited by the departments’ website at ahara.kar.nic.in
Short Summary of Karnataka Ration Card
| Name of Article | Karnataka Ration Card |
|---|---|
| Concerned Government | The government of Karnataka |
| Concerned Department | The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Govt. of Karnataka |
| Objective | To distribute free rations to citizens |
| Beneficiaries | BPL, APL, EWS and LIG households in Karnataka |
| Benefits | Distributions of free rations per month |
| Application process | Online |
| Official Website | http://ahara.kar.nic.in/ |
Aims and Objectives
The Karnataka government distributes free rations to its citizens who are eligible for free rations and have a valid Karnataka Ration Card. The main objective of the ration card in Karnataka is to ensure no citizen is living without food. The Karnataka Ration Card aims to provide food security to citizens and remove the malnutrition among families by providing them free rations every month through the fair price shops. A ration card is an initiative that guarantees food supplies regularly to supplement the nutrition of common citizens and save them from hunger.
See also: Gruha Lakshmi Scheme
Karnataka Ration Card: apply online 2025
- Citizens can apply for a ration card in Karnataka by visiting the official website of the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs at http://ahara.kar.nic.in/
- After the applicant reaches the home screen he should click on the e-services menu then click on the Application and Generate New Ration Card option.
- Next the applicant will have two language options such as Kannada and English, out of which the applicant is required to select one language in which the user wants the application details to be displayed.
- After the applicant selects the language option the screen will show options such as (1) New Ration Card Request (2) Edit Saved Request and (3) Application Withdrawal
- The applicant should click on the first option which is New Ration Card Request to proceed further with the application process.
- Next the applicant should select either the priority household (PHH) option or non-priority household (NPHH) as per his status.
- Now enter the Aadhar number and mobile number registered in Aadhar and click Go to proceed further.
- Next complete the OTP-based Aadhar authentication, fill in the Captcha code and click Go again.
- After the Aadhar verification is done the details of the applicant (as available in Aadhar) will be fetched by the system including name, date of birth, year of birth, photograph, etc.
- Next the applicant should complete the biometric authentication to provide consent for the usage of the Aadhar details of the applicant and other family members.
- If the Aadhar card of the applicant is already registered for a ration card then he/she should delete the Aadhar details from the existing ration card and then apply for a fresh ration card.
- Next the applicant has to complete the biometric authentication for self and other family members as well using the biometric device.
- After the fingerprint authentication is done an application number will be generated which should be printed out for future actions.
Note: Applicants should visit the nearest Bangalore One/ Karnataka One/ Private franchises/ Janasnehi Kendra/ Grama Panachayath/ POS shops to complete fingerprint authentication for self and other family members with ease.
Note: For any queries or issues, citizens can contact the Tahsildar of his district by making an in-person visit.
Note: The Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs issues ration cards within 40 days of application.
Post-application Process
- The submitted application will be automatically forwarded to the concerned ward in urban areas or Gram Panchayat in rural areas for field verification.
- The concerned official will visit the applicant’s house and approve the ration card if found eligible for which the applicant will be notified through mobile SMS.
- The ration card will be delivered to the applicant through speed post for which the applicant is required to pay Rs. 70 to the postman.
Terms and conditions
- The applicant and the family members are required to complete fingerprint-based biometric authentication at the time of filling out the application form for a fresh ration card.
- Biometric authentication is not required for children below 5 years of age however in such cases, the Aadhar card of the children will be required.
- For the PHH (priority household) card, the Aadhar card and income certificate of the head of the family will be required whereas for the NPHH (non-priority household) card only the Aadhar card should be submitted.
- The Aadhar card of at least one member of the applicant’s family should have the current address mentioned on it and if it is not so then one member of the family should first update the current address in the Aadhar by visiting the Aadhar Enrolment Centre.
- The mobile number of the applicant to be provided in the ration card should be Aadhar registered or the mobile number of at least one of the family members should be registered with Aadhar.
- The eldest female member of the applicant’s family should be selected as the head of the family (HOF) and if there is no female member of 18 years then the eldest male member will be the HOF.
Modification in Karnataka Ration Card
- Visit the nearest Bio-photo centre if you are residing in an urban area or go to the Gram Panchayat Office Computer Centre in your panchayat if you come from a rural region and check the validity of your ration card first.
- If your ration card status is CANCELLED or DETAILS NOT FOUND then you cannot proceed with modifications.
- If your ration card is valid as per the government database then you can proceed with the necessary modifications such as adding and deleting members, updating photo and biometrics, etc.
- For this purpose you should carry the necessary documents which will be submitted as proof for modifications in ration card details.
- After you are done with the necessary modifications you should collect the system-generated acknowledgement paper.
- The applicant needs to submit the old ration card at the time of collecting the modified ration card from the food office.
- The applicant is required to provide biometric authentication and pay the service charge of Rs. 20 at the time of receiving the modified ration card from the food office.
See also: Gruha Jyothi Scheme
Track Application Status
- The user should visit the official website of the department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs at https://ahara.karnataka.gov.in/ and click on the e-services option on the home screen.
- The e-services menu will reflect on the screen in which the user should click the e-status option and select New/Existing RC Request Status from the dropdown, select the region among Bangalore, Mysore and Kalburgi as per the residential status and click over it.
- After performing the above step a new page will reflect on the user’s screen in which he has to click on Application Status for New Ration Card Applied to proceed further.
- On the next screen provide your acknowledgement number, fill in the Captcha code and submit at last to get your application status shown on your screen.
Download Karnataka Ration Card 2025
- To download an electronic copy of your Karnataka Ration Card you should visit the official website by typing ahara.karnataka.gov.in in the browser.
- Then navigate to the e-services option, click the e-ration card option and select Show ration card option from the drop-down.
- Now provide your ration card number in the designated field and click on the Go button.
- The electronic copy of your ration card will appear on your screen which you can print out for handy usage.
Contact Address
- Address: Room No. 340 A, 341, 341 A, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Department, Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore – 560001
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the Karnataka Ration Card?
All households who have BPL, APL and LIG status can apply for a ration card in Karnataka to receive free rations per month.
How many categories are there under the Karnataka Ration Card?
The government of Karnataka issues ration cards to citizens in four categories which are (1) Below Poverty Line (2) Above Poverty Line (3) Annapurna Yojana and (2) Antyodaya Anna Yojana.
Which department issues ration cards in Karnataka?
The Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, government of Karnataka issues ration cards to households in Karnataka.
What is the application process for the Karnataka Ration Card and in how many days is a ration card issued?
The application process for the Karnataka Ration Card is online and can be performed either using the official website of the department or visiting the nearest Bangalore One/ Karnataka One/ Private franchises/ Janasnehi Kendra/ Grama Panachayath/ POS shops. A ration card is issued within 40 days of successful online application.