Food security (ration) card

Food security (ration) card
Who can get a new food security (ration) card in Telangana, or add a family member to a card, and which form and documents to take where.
For whom: Low-income families living in Telangana, and families with a child or a newly married member who is not yet on their card.
Published on 30-10-2026. Not every fact has been checked against its official source yet: confirm at the office.

Only if

What do you need? A new card for the family
1.
Ask at a MeeSeva centre, or call 1967, whether applications for new cards are being taken now.
📞 Food security helpline 1967
Not confirmed: The Civil Supplies charter (2022) and its 'How to Apply' note say new-card applications go through MeeSeva, and the form is still on the MeeSeva portal. But the portal's list of Civil Supplies services has no new-card service (read on 30 October 2026), and we found no official notice saying whether applications are being taken now, or whether another channel (a special drive) is in use.
2.
Fill in the new-card form: the head of the family's details, your gas connection (if you have one), your address and ration shop number, and each family member's name, Aadhaar number, age and relation to the head.
✋ You do this yourself
📎 Application form for a new food security card (Application for New Food Security Card)

Only if

What do you need? Add someone to our existing card
3.
Fill in the corrections form: write your card number and tick "Member Addition". Write the new member's Aadhaar number, name exactly as in Aadhaar, age and gender.
✋ You do this yourself
📎 Form for corrections in a food security card (Corrections in Food Security Card), for adding a member, Your existing food security card (its number)

Only if

What do you need? A new card for the family · Counting income from land too, is your family's total income ₹1,50,000 a year or less in a village, or ₹2,00,000 a year or less in a town or city? Yes, that or less
4.
Hand in the form and documents at a MeeSeva centre; they upload them. Keep the receipt with the application number.
🏢 At a MeeSeva centre
📎 Application form for a new food security card (Application for New Food Security Card), Aadhaar cards, Proof of address, Old ration card or food security card number (if you had one), Applicant's passport-size photo, Income certificate
💰 Fee: A MeeSeva charge applies; we could not confirm the amount.
⏱️ within 30 days · The charter gives 30 days for the enquiry and the Tahsildar's approval.
Not confirmed: The new-card service is not in the MeeSeva portal's list of services (read on 30 October 2026), though its form is still among the application forms. MeeSeva charges were raised in April 2026, so the 2022 charter's charge no longer applies. Ask the centre what it costs before you pay, and check your receipt. The 30 days are from the 2022 charter.

Only if

What do you need? Add someone to our existing card
5.
At a MeeSeva centre, ask for the "Corrections in Food Security Card" service. Hand in the form and documents, pay, and keep the receipt with the application number.
🏢 At a MeeSeva centre
📎 Form for corrections in a food security card (Corrections in Food Security Card), for adding a member, Your existing food security card (its number), Aadhaar cards, Proof for the member being added
💰 Fee: ₹80 · MeeSeva user charge, including GST. Each page scanned or printed beyond the first four costs ₹2.50 more.
⏱️ within 30 days · 30 working days, by the MeeSeva portal.
Not confirmed: The service is on the MeeSeva portal, but ask at the centre whether these applications are being taken now.

Only if

What do you need? A new card for the family · Counting income from land too, is your family's total income ₹1,50,000 a year or less in a village, or ₹2,00,000 a year or less in a town or city? Yes, that or less
6.
Wait for the check. A Civil Supplies inspector visits, checks your address and eligibility, and uploads a report. The Tahsildar (MRO) then reviews it and sends it to the District Civil Supply Officer (DCSO). If the DCSO approves, the card is generated. An application can be sent back for another check.
✋ You do this yourself

Only if

What do you need? Add someone to our existing card
7.
Wait for the check. After an enquiry, the Tahsildar (in rural areas) or the Assistant Supply Officer (in the urban areas of Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri) approves it.
✋ You do this yourself

Only if

What do you need? A new card for the family · Counting income from land too, is your family's total income ₹1,50,000 a year or less in a village, or ₹2,00,000 a year or less in a town or city? Yes, that or less
8.
The officials decide the type of card. The poorest households (such as landless labourers, widows, people over 60 or disabled people with no support, and primitive tribal households) get an Antyodaya card (AFSC): 35 kg of rice a month per family. Others get a food security card (FSC): 6 kg per person a month.
✋ You do this yourself

For everyone

9.
Check the status on the MeeSeva portal under "Know Your Application Status", with your application number.
💻 Online
ts.meeseva.telangana.gov.in ↗
10.
After approval, look up your card and the names on it with "FSC Search" on the Civil Supplies Department's ePDS website.
💻 ePDS (Civil Supplies Department)
epds.telangana.gov.in ↗
Not confirmed: We could not see what the "FSC Search" page asks for (its link changes every visit).
11.
Collect your ration at your fair price (ration) shop between the 1st and 15th of each month. You give the card number and confirm with your Aadhaar fingerprint or iris.
🏛️ Your fair price (ration) shop
Not confirmed: The 1st-to-15th dates are from the 2022 charter; ask your shop for its dates.

You cannot get this

A food security card is not given if the family's yearly income is over ₹1,50,000 in a village or ₹2,00,000 in a town (Telangana Food Security Rules, 2017, rule 3). Owning more than 3.5 acres of wet land or 7.5 acres of dry land does not by itself rule you out, as long as the income from it is within the limit.

Documents you need

If you don't have it:
Ask at the MeeSeva centre. It is also on the MeeSeva portal under Downloads, Application Forms, Civil Supplies.
If you don't have it:
Ask at the MeeSeva centre. It is also on the MeeSeva portal under Downloads, Application Forms, Civil Supplies.
If you don't have it:
→ Getting a new Aadhaar
Not confirmed: The form and the charter do not say which documents count as proof of address for a new card. For a change of address, the charter names an electricity bill, municipal bill, bank passbook or telephone bill. Ask at the MeeSeva centre.
Not confirmed: Only the Civil Supplies sheet "How to Apply for a New Ration Card" (undated) asks for a photo; the documents list on MeeSeva's new-card application form has none. Take one with you, and ask at the MeeSeva centre whether it is needed.
If you don't have it:
→ Income certificate
Not confirmed: The rules set an income limit, but the MeeSeva form does not list an income certificate. Ask at the MeeSeva centre or call 1967 whether one is needed.

If something goes wrong

If it is rejected
If it is rejected, ask the Tahsildar office why. By the charter, complaints about these services go to the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) or the District Supply Officer. If you think you are eligible and were wrongly refused, you can also complain to the District Grievance Redressal Officer (the DRO in Hyderabad, the DRDO in other districts) in writing, in person or through 1967. They are to decide within 30 days (45 days if an enquiry is needed). If you are not satisfied with that decision, you can appeal to the State Food Commission within 30 days.
Food security helpline (Civil Supplies Department)
📞 1967
If it is late
If it has not come after 30 days, file a complaint under "Lodge your grievance" on the Civil Supplies grievance website (IGRMS), or call 1967 (open 24 hours). You can follow the complaint on the same website. By the charter, complaints about cards are handled by the Additional Collector in the districts and the Chief Rationing Officer in Hyderabad, who are to respond in 3 days and resolve them in 14 days.
Civil Supplies grievance website (IGRMS), 1967
tgspdsgrams.telangana.gov.in ↗📞 1967
If you are asked for more money
MeeSeva charges ₹80, including GST, for "Corrections in Food Security Card"; for a new card, ask what it costs before you pay. The centre must give you a printed receipt for every payment and display the chart of charges. Charging more than the set amount is treated as fraud: the centre can be fined, and removed if it keeps happening. If you are asked for more, ask for the receipt and complain to the Parishkaram call centre (1100, or toll-free 1800 425 1110). Do not pay agents who offer to speed it up.
Parishkaram call centre (MeeSeva complaints)
📞 1100
Also
If the ration shop does not give you your ration even though you have a card, call 1967, file a complaint on the IGRMS website, or complain in writing to the District Grievance Redressal Officer. Give your name, phone number and the details; complaints without a name are not taken.
Civil Supplies grievance website (IGRMS), 1967
tgspdsgrams.telangana.gov.in ↗📞 1967
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Updated on 30-10-2026
Sahayam is not a government service. We take no applications, documents or money.
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