Under the new rules, a man will be considered the head of the household only if there is no adult female in the family. The card’s maximum income limit has been increased to ₹1.2 lakh. Learn about the changes made by the Delhi government.
Women Head of Household Rule
The government has imposed a mandatory condition to promote women’s empowerment. For a ration card, only the oldest adult woman in the family (aged 18 or older) will be considered the household head. A man will be considered the head of the household only if no other woman in the family is 18 years of age or older. Once a girl in the family turns 18, she will replace the man as the head of the household.
If the declared female head of the household dies, the next-oldest woman on the card may apply to become the head of the household.
Income Limit Upgraded
Under the revised rules, more low-income families will now be eligible for this scheme. The annual family income limit has been increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹1.20 lakh.
Self-declaration will no longer be accepted. You will need to provide an official income certificate issued by the Revenue Department.
Who is ineligible?
People who own a house or land in Delhi’s A to E category colonies will not be eligible for a ration card. A family member who owns a four-wheeled vehicle (a car, for example) will also be disqualified from obtaining a ration card (except for one commercial vehicle used for livelihood).
Furthermore, if any family member is a government employee or pays income tax, the family will be ineligible for a ration card. If the household’s electricity connection exceeds 2 kilowatts (2 kW), the benefit will not be available.
What other changes have been made:
Quota based on voter list: Ration cards will now be allocated in proportion to the number of voters in the districts. This will later be changed based on the census.
Committee scrutiny: The first-come, first-served system has been abolished. A committee chaired by the District Magistrate (DM) will scrutinise applications, and the poorest of the poor will be prioritised.
Waiting list: A 20% waiting list will also be maintained so that new people can receive rations immediately when space becomes available.
This change will fill more than 800,000 vacant slots in Delhi, benefiting those who have been facing issues due to pending applications for years.
