Documents required in Maharashtra
- One identity proof — Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving licence, or a government ID card
Maharashtra asks for the least of these five states: one identity proof, whichever of the four you have. There is a genuine contradiction worth knowing about — both of the state's online services for a new ration card say “No Documents Required”, while the department's own paper form asks for one of these four proofs. We have not found an official explanation for the difference, so take the paper form's list as the safe assumption and carry an identity proof with you.
How to apply in Maharashtra
You can apply online through the state's ration card management system or Aaple Sarkar, or on paper at the rationing office. Aaple Sarkar carries two services for this, and the one for a new card states a 30-day time limit and three levels of appeal. Maharashtra is also the only one of these five states that charges a fee for the card, though the amount is not published on the department's site.
Maharashtra's official food department portal →
Who cannot get a card in Maharashtra
Maharashtra sets its eligibility by income, and the figures are in law rather than in a circular: a household qualifies as a Priority Household if its annual income is not more than ₹44,000 in rural areas or ₹59,000 in urban areas. The state runs four card categories — Antyodaya, Priority Household, APL Farmer and Non Priority Household — and APL Farmer has no equivalent in the other states here.
What you get, and what it costs
How much grain you get depends on the card, not the state. An Antyodaya (AAY) household gets 35 kg a month for the whole household. A Priority Household (PHH) gets 5 kg per person per month, so the total depends on how many members are on the card.
It costs nothing. Foodgrains under the National Food Security Act have been free since 1 January 2023, and the free period was extended for five years from 1 January 2024.
Common questions
What documents are needed for a ration card in Maharashtra?
For a new ration card in Maharashtra: One identity proof — Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving licence, or a government ID card. This is the list Maharashtra's own department publishes — other states ask for different things.
How much does ration cost under the National Food Security Act?
Nothing. Grain has been free to Antyodaya and Priority Household beneficiaries since 1 January 2023, and the free period was extended for five years from 1 January 2024. The ₹3 a kg for rice, ₹2 for wheat and ₹1 for coarse grains quoted on most websites are Schedule I prices, which the Act guaranteed only for three years from its commencement in 2013.
Whose name is the ration card issued in?
The eldest woman of the household who is 18 or older is the head of the household for the purpose of issuing the card. If the household has no woman aged 18 or above, the eldest male member is the head — and when a female member turns 18, she becomes the head in his place.
How do you apply for a ration card in Maharashtra?
You can apply online through the state's ration card management system or Aaple Sarkar, or on paper at the rationing office. Aaple Sarkar carries two services for this, and the one for a new card states a 30-day time limit and three levels of appeal. Maharashtra is also the only one of these five states that charges a fee for the card, though the amount is not published on the department's site.
Checked against the state's own portal, form or gazette on 2026-08-11. State rules change — confirm on the official portal before you apply.