Quick steps
- Reach the application linkOn the RTPS home page, open the food department block, tap RTPS Services and pick Application for Ration Card. It takes you to the RC online system.
- Register as a new userSign up with the mobile number you will keep. Bihar portals now use Meri Pehchaan, so you may be sent to that sign in page and asked for an OTP.
- Log in and start a new applicationAfter login, pick the option for a new ration card. Set the address fields one by one, from district down to your village or ward.
- Add applicant detailsComplete the family head part: name spelled as in Aadhaar, father or husband name, date of birth, category and Aadhaar number.
- Add every memberEnter each family member with relation, age and Aadhaar. Leave out anyone already on another card, or the application can be stopped.
- Upload documentsAttach clear scans or photos of the papers the form asks for. Keep each file small, as large files often fail on slow data.
- Final submission and reference numberCheck everything, then submit. Write down the reference number that appears after submission; an SMS also carries it. You need it for tracking.
Open Bihar RC online systemOfficial site, opens in a new tab
To do a ration card apply online Bihar families register on the state RC online system, sign in with an OTP, fill the head of family details, add each member, upload documents and submit. The same system also handles adding or removing members and changing address on an existing card.
The RTPS service portal shows this service, in the food department's box, as Application for Ration Card, and the block RTPS counter can file it for you if you have no smartphone. Approval is decided by the supply officials after field checks, so the online form starts the process but does not by itself give you a card. For everything else about Bihar cards, see our Bihar ration card page.
At a glance
- Apply at
- rconline.bihar.gov.in
- Login
- Mobile OTP or Meri Pehchaan
- Offline option
- RTPS counter at the block
- Documents
- Aadhaar of all members, photo, address proof
- You receive
- Reference number by SMS
- Decided by
- Block and subdivision supply officials
- Card types
- PHH or AAY under NFSA
Which Bihar families need a fresh card
Bihar issues only NFSA cards: Priority Household (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY). There is no separate state APL card. A family that has no card at all, or a member who has formed a new household after marriage, files a fresh application.
When the family holds a card already and only a newborn or new bride is missing, do not apply for a fresh card. Use the add member option on the same RC online system instead. A duplicate application for a family already in the database is usually rejected.
Documents to keep ready
- Aadhaar for each person going on the card. Spellings on the form must follow these cards.
- Mobile number that is active and with you, for the OTP and the SMS updates.
- Photograph of the head of family, recent and clear.
- Residence proof for the address you give, such as a residence certificate from RTPS.
- Income certificate if the form asks for it.
- Bank passbook page if a bank field is shown.
The form decides what is compulsory, and it can change. Read the upload screen before scanning everything.
Ration card apply online Bihar through the RC online system
The RC online system splits the work into six stages: Registration, Login, Add Applicant Details, Add Member Details, Upload Documents and Final Submission. You can stop after any stage and continue later with the same login.
Choose the address levels slowly. If you pick the wrong panchayat, the file goes to the wrong block and comes back after weeks. NFSA prefers an adult woman as the head of family, so put the senior woman of the house first where possible.
Applying at the RTPS counter instead
If you have no smartphone or the site keeps failing, carry the original papers and photocopies to the block RTPS window. The operator enters the form and gives a printed acknowledgement with the reference number. Common service centres in many panchayats do the same. A modest service charge is usual at private centres, while the RTPS counter itself is a public service.
Ask for the printed slip every time. Without it you cannot track the file or appeal a delay.
When the RC online site does not open
The RC online system sometimes shows a service unavailable message or stays blank. Try again after a few hours, preferably early morning. Open it fresh from the RTPS portal link rather than an old bookmark. If several days pass with no luck, apply at the counter instead of waiting. Do not pay any website that claims to submit your form faster; only the bihar.gov.in sites take applications.
After you submit
The application moves to the block for verification. Expect a field visit or a phone call from an official. Once approved, the new number appears in the EPDS village report under your dealer, and you can then open it as shown on our Bihar list page.
To track progress with the reference number, use our Bihar application status guide. Once the card is live, every member should complete Aadhaar eKYC at the shop. For how other states take applications, see our national apply online guide.
Questions people ask
Can I do a Bihar ration card online apply from my phone?
Yes. The RC online system opens in a phone browser, and uploads work from the phone camera. Keep photos small and well lit to keep the upload light.
How do I check ration card status Bihar by application number?
Use the reference number from your SMS or slip on the RTPS portal tracking page, or log back in to RC online. Our application status page shows both routes.
What is the Bihar RC online login?
It is the account you create on rconline.bihar.gov.in with your mobile number. Bihar has moved its online services to Meri Pehchaan sign in, so an OTP based login is normal.
Is there a fee for a new ration card application in Bihar?
Bihar's food department takes online applications without any charge. A centre that types the form for you may ask a service charge.
What is the waiting period for approval in Bihar?
There is no fixed answer we can confirm. It depends on verification at the block. If it seems stuck, take your slip to the block supply office.
My family already has a card. Should I still apply fresh?
No. Use the add member option in the same RC online account to put new people on your existing card.