Families with an annual income of up to ₹1.20 lakh in Delhi will now be eligible for ration cards: CM Rekha Gupta
New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu): A major decision has been taken to make Delhi’s food security system more equitable and focused on the poor. Families with an annual household income of up to ₹1.20 lakh will now be eligible for a ration card, up from the earlier cap of ₹1 lakh. This decision was taken at a recent meeting of the Delhi Cabinet, chaired by the Chief Minister, Smt. Rekha Gupta.
The Chief Minister made it clear that food security is not an act of charity, but a right of the poor. The government’s resolve is that no needy person should go hungry merely because of shortcomings in the system. According to official data, due to the absence of clear rules for several years, more than 3,89,883 applications have remained pending in Delhi, and over 11,65,965 people are still waiting for food security benefits. These individuals will now be included in a transparent, need-based system.
Key reforms and provisions
Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta stated that under the new rules, the income limit for identifying priority households has been made more realistic. Families with an annual household income of up to ₹1.20 lakh will now fall within the ambit of food security, compared to the earlier limit of ₹1 lakh. An income certificate issued by the Revenue Department has been made mandatory, thereby ending the system of self-certification.
Under the new rules, families will not be eligible if they own property in A to E category colonies in Delhi, pay income tax, own a four-wheeler (excluding one commercial vehicle used for livelihood), have any family member in government service, or have an electricity connection exceeding 2 kilowatts.
Priority to be determined at the district level
The Chief Minister said that the ‘first-come, first-served’ system will now be discontinued. Applications will be examined, approved, and prioritised through district-level committees. This will ensure that the most needy families are placed higher on the list.
She explained that the district-level committee has been designated as the central unit for priority determination. It will be chaired by the District Magistrate (DM) or Additional District Magistrate (ADM) and will include the local MLA and concerned officials. The committee will scrutinise applications and arrange them in order of priority so that the most deserving families receive benefits first. Additionally, a 20 per cent waiting list will also be prepared to ensure that vacancies are filled in a timely manner.
Pending applications to be resolved soon
The Chief Minister said that a huge backlog had accumulated over the years due to the lack of clear rules. The government conducted a review of food security system data, which revealed several irregularities. Based on this verification, those who were not genuinely eligible were removed from the list.
Data verification revealed around 6,46,123 beneficiaries whose income details did not match the prescribed norms. About 95,682 individuals had remained in the system for a long time without availing any benefits. Nearly 23,394 duplicate names were found, while in 6,185 cases benefits were recorded in the names of deceased persons. Around 56,372 people had themselves requested to opt out of the system. Owing to all these reasons, a total of more than 8,27,756 vacancies were created.
It was also found that more than 3,89,883 applications are currently pending and over 11,65,965 people are awaiting food security benefits. These vacant slots will now be filled with those who have been waiting for years for ration cards or food security coverage.
Chief Minister Smt.Rekha Gupta said that this is not merely a document of rules, but a guarantee of dignity, transparency, and trust for Delhi’s most vulnerable sections. The government is committed to ensuring that no needy person goes hungry and that the food security system truly works on the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’.
According to the Chief Minister, this decision has been taken towards the effective and just implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013. Through the new rules, a technology-driven, fair, and transparent public distribution system is being developed, which will prevent misuse and ensure that benefits reach those who genuinely need them.