Want to apply for a new rice card or update your existing one in Andhra Pradesh? You have time only until June 7 to complete the process.
The Andhra Pradesh Government has introduced a simplified system for seven rice card services (also known as a ration card). These include applying for a new rice card, splitting an existing card, adding or removing members, surrendering a card, correcting wrong Aadhaar details, and changing the address.
These services are available at Village/Ward Secretariats, MeeSeva centers, via WhatsApp Governance, and through the Citizen Login portal.
In this post, you’ll find what documents are needed, each service application fees, and how long each request may take. Everything is explained clearly to help you finish your application without confusion.
Documents Required for Rice Card Services in Andhra Pradesh
Find the complete list of documents required for various Rice Card-related services such as new card application, member addition, split card, address change, and more in Andhra Pradesh.
| S.No | Service Type | Required Document |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Rice Card | Application Form |
| All Members Aadhaar Cards | ||
| Transgender Certificate | ||
| Spouse Death Certificate | ||
| 2 | Member Addition | Aadhaar Card of at least one existing member on the rice card |
| Aadhaar Card of the person being added to the rice card | ||
| Birth Certificate (for child) | ||
| Marriage Certificate (for bride) | ||
| Marriage Photo (for bride) | ||
| 3 | Split Card | Application Form |
| Aadhaar Cards | ||
| Marriage Certificate (for married couple) | ||
| 4 | Address Change | Application Form |
| Address Proof | ||
| Rice Card | ||
| Aadhaar Card of the Self or HOF | ||
| 5 | Surrender Card | Application Form |
| Aadhaar Cards | ||
| Rice Card | ||
| 6 | Aadhaar Correction | Application Form |
| Aadhaar Cards | ||
| Rice Card | ||
| 7 | Member Deletion | Application Form |
| Rice Card | ||
| Death Certificate |
Note: Supporting Document for Destitute:
- FMC or Death certificates of spouse/family members (if applicable) or
- Letter from Village Secretary or Local Official confirming their condition.
How to Apply for a New Rice Card in Andhra Pradesh
While applying, you’ll need to select one of the following options under "New Rice Card Family Member Details":
- Two and More Members Card: For families with two or more eligible members.
- Single Member Card: For individuals who live alone and fall under specific categories.
Note: When applying for a new rice card, it doesn't matter if there are two or more members or if it's a single member, but none of them should already be part of an active rice card, and all of them should be registered in the Andhra Pradesh GSWS (Grama/Ward Sachivalayam) household data.
Eligibility for Single Member New Rice Card in Andhra Pradesh
If you are applying for a Single Member Rice Card, you must belong to one of the officially approved categories.
These categories are designed for individuals who do not have any other family members residing with them and are in vulnerable situations:
- Destitute and No Other Family Member Is Alive: This is for individuals who have no surviving family members and live completely alone.
- Transgender: Transgender persons who live independently and are not part of any family can apply under this category.
- Unmarried and Above 50 Years of Age: This is applicable for men and women who are over 50 years old and have never married or lived with a family.
- Widow (female) and Never Had Any Children: Widowed women who have no children (biological or adopted) and live alone can apply.
- Widower (male) and Never Had Any Children: Widowed men without children and living independently are eligible under this option.
Can a newly married couple get a new rice card if one partner doesn't have one?
If either the husband or wife doesn’t have a card, they cannot apply for a new or separate rice card after marriage.
However, the partner without a rice card can be added to the spouse's existing family rice card, if eligible.
How to Add Member to Rice Card
You can add a person to your rice card in two ways using the "Member Addition in Rice Card" option:
- Through Birth: Use this option to add a newborn child. The person must not be listed on any other rice card.
- Through Marriage: A husband can add his wife, or a wife can add her husband, even if they are already included in another rice card. Their name will be removed from the previous card after being added to the new one.
Can I add two members in the Rice Card application for both birth and marriage reasons?
Yes, you can add two different members to an adding category for two separate reasons.
One can be added under Birth and the other under Marriage using the "Add New Member" option at the same time.
Can a person above 15 years of age be added to the rice card under the birth category?
Yes, a person over 15 years can still be added under the 'birth' category if you have a valid age-proof document.
How to Delete a Member from Your Rice Card
In Andhra Pradesh, you can transfer a person from one ration card to another under certain conditions.
But if you want to remove someone from your rice card permanently, it’s only allowed in the case of death using the "Member Deletion in Rice Card" option, which requires submitting a death certificate.
How to Split a Rice Card (Family Division Procedure)
The candidate must select the appropriate Split Type they wish to divide their existing rice card into separate units due to changes in family structure or personal circumstances. The options available are:
- Normal Split: For a Normal Split in the AP Rice Card application, the family must have at least four members, including the applicant and one married couple.
- Widow / Widower Split: When applying for a Widow or Widower Split, at least two members must be selected. This includes the applicant and one dependent family member because the new rice card is not issued to a single person under this category.
- Divorce Split (With Children): Applicable to divorced individuals who live with at least one child and need a new card.
- Single Member Split:
- If 'Widow or Widower Split' is selected, members with the relationship marked as 'Self', 'Father', or 'Mother' cannot be included in the split. Only dependent family members such as son, daughter, brother, or sister can be separated from the existing ration card.
- If unmarried or Transgender categories are selected, 'Self', 'Husband', 'Wife, 'Father', or 'Mother' not allowed to split
- Marriage Split: Used when a member gets newly married and wants to be separated from the original family card.
Difference Between Normal Split and Marriage Split
| Criteria | Normal Split | Marriage Split |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To divide a joint or large family into separate rice cards | To create a new rice card for a newly married couple |
| Who Can Split | Parents can split along with their children, or other family members are allowed as long as conditions are met | Only the newly wedded couple can be separated |
| Minimum Members | At least 4 members, including one married couple | Generally 2 members (husband and wife) |
| Household and Ration Card Requirements | All family members must be pre-registered in the same household and on the same ration card | Splitting is allowed even when individuals are in different households or on different ration cards |
Note: Do not apply for a Marriage Split if both spouses are already listed on the same rice card.
Can a deceased husband's two wives be separated on the ration card if each has one child?
There is no direct option in the ration card services to separate the two wives of a deceased husband into different ration cards. Even if each wife has one child, the system does not support automatic separation in such cases.
Correction of Wrong Aadhaar Seeding Option:
Aadhaar seeding involves linking each family member's unique 12-digit Aadhaar number to their rice card to ensure accurate identification, prevent fraud, and streamline the delivery of subsidized food grains and other welfare benefits.
What happens if Aadhaar is wrongly linked to a rice card in AP?
If your Aadhaar number is wrongly linked to your Rice Card in Andhra Pradesh, you will lose access to government welfare schemes like free gas, pensions, and subsidized ration supplies.
How to Change of Address in Rice Card
To update your address in the Rice Card, you must visit the Sachivalayam (Village/Ward Secretariat) where your household is registered.
Use the "Change of Address in Rice Card" option through the Digital Assistant (DA) login.
The new address will be updated based on the details you provide in the basic form, regardless of the address linked to your Aadhaar.
- Before proceeding, enter the Aadhaar number of Self or the head of the family (HOF) mentioned in the ration card.
- No need to take eKYC of any family member if you do an address change
How to Surrender of Rice Card in Andhra Pradesh
In Andhra Pradesh, the "Surrender Rice Card" option is provided to allow individuals to voluntarily relinquish their ration cards when their circumstances have changed, such as an increase in income, acquisition of property, or securing government employment, etc..
Should I give up my rice card if I'm no longer eligible?
The Andhra Pradesh government advises families to surrender their rice card if they become ineligible or shift to the APL (Above Poverty Line) category, to avoid penalties or legal action during verification.
Rice Card Sanction Procedure in Andhra Pradesh
After making a payment for any ration card service in the DA login, a receipt with a “T” series is generated.
You can take this receipt to the PS, VRO, DA, or a Mahila Police to complete eKYC using the employee mobile app.
Once eKYC is done, the application will be forwarded from the VRO login to the MRO login for final approval.
Check the table below to know the processing timeline for each login, expected sanction time for the ration card, and the fees paid by users.
| Services | ekyc SLA | VRO SLA | Tahsildar SLA | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Card | 3 | 7 | 170 | Rs. 24 |
| Member Addition | 11 | |||
| Deletion | ||||
| Aadhaar Correction | ||||
| Address Change | NA | |||
| Surrender | 3 | |||
| Splitting | 170 | Rs. 48 |
How to Check Rice Card Application Status Online
If you recently applied for any service related to your rice card, your status page will look something like this after entering "T" number series in the official ap seva portal home page:
From this timeline applicants understand:
- How long each stage is expected to take.
- Whether any officer is holding up the process.
- When to raise a concern if it's delayed beyond SLA.
Frequently Asked Questions:
(1Q). Do I need to pass a six-step verification process to get Rice Card services in Andhra Pradesh?
Ans: Yes, to access Rice Card services in Andhra Pradesh, applicants must go through a six-step verification process conducted by the Village or Ward Secretariat.
This verification checks your eligibility based on several criteria such as:
- Being a permanent resident of Andhra Pradesh
- Monthly household income below ₹10,000 in rural areas or ₹12,000 in urban areas
- No government employee in the family
- Not owning a four-wheeler (except for autos, taxis, or tractors)
Only after passing this six-step validation, eligible to receive ration benefits.
(2Q). How to get a rice card if the six-step verification shows more than 3 acres of land, even though we own less?
Ans: Don't worry if the land details are wrong in the six-step verification. Submit your land documents to the Village Revenue Officer (VRO)
They will verify and select 'Disagree' while forwarding your rice card application to override the validation issue and proceed for approval.
Note: Also read the redressal process for land issues and electricity complaints.
Conclusion
The Andhra Pradesh rice card services offer a simplified and accessible way for residents to manage their ration cards and continue receiving essential welfare benefits.
With the June 7, 2025 deadline approaching, applicants should take advantage of various channels, such as Village/Ward Secretariats, MeeSeva centers, WhatsApp Governance, and the Citizen Login portal, to apply, update, or surrender cards.
Ensuring you have the necessary documents and meet the eligibility criteria will make the process smoother.
Stay proactive, monitor your application status online, and resolve any issues promptly to avoid disruptions in benefits.