Quick steps
- Download your e-ration cardOpen your state food portal and view your card. The category is printed near the card number, for example AAY, PHH, NPHH or a state code.
- Match the code to the categoryUse the table on this page to see what the code means for grain and schemes in your state.
- Check eligibility for a changeIf your income has dropped, a member is disabled, or the family has no earning adult, you may qualify for a priority category.
- Apply for category changeUse the state portal's category change service if it has one, or submit an application with income proof at the supply office.
- Track the decisionNote the acknowledgement number. The type changes on the card only after field verification and approval.
Open National Food Security portalOfficial site, opens in a new tab
A BPL ration card is the older name for a card given to families below the poverty line, and under the National Food Security Act most of these families now hold either an Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) card or a Priority Household (PHH) card. Many states still say BPL and APL in their menus, forms and shop boards, so both sets of words are in use.
Your card type decides how much grain you get and which state schemes you can join. This page lays out the national categories, shows how some states name and colour their cards, and explains how to download your card or ask for a category change. Every other card service has a link on our home page.
At a glance
- Central categories
- AAY and PHH under NFSA
- Older terms
- BPL and APL, still used by many states
- State extras
- Non-priority and state scheme cards
- Who decides type
- State food department after verification
- Card type shown
- On the e-card, next to the card number
- National info
- nfsa.gov.in
National categories under the food security law
| Category | Who gets it | What it means at the shop |
|---|---|---|
| Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) | The poorest families, such as those with no steady income, widows or disabled persons without support, and some tribal groups | A fixed family quantity each month, the highest entitlement |
| Priority Household (PHH) | Families chosen by the state under its NFSA criteria | A fixed quantity per member each month |
| Non-priority or state card | Families outside NFSA lists | Depends on the state; some give grain under state schemes, some only use the card as an identity and address proof |
Under One Nation One Ration Card, only AAY and PHH cards can take ration in another state. Read our ration card transfer guide for how that works.
BPL ration card and APL: where the old words still apply
Before NFSA, states sorted families into below poverty line and above poverty line. Many still keep these words. Karnataka calls its priority cards BPL cards and others APL; see our Karnataka BPL card page. Haryana also runs a BPL card linked to the Family ID income record; our Haryana BPL guide explains how income verification decides it. When a state site says BPL, it usually maps to PHH or AAY under the national law.
State colours and codes
Colours are set by each state, so a yellow card in one state may mean something else in another. A few that are well known:
- Kerala: yellow for AAY, pink for priority, blue and white for non-priority groups.
- Maharashtra: yellow for BPL and AAY families, saffron for families in the middle income band, white for higher income families.
- Tamil Nadu: codes rather than colours, such as PHH, PHH-AAY, NPHH, NPHH-S for sugar only and NPHH-NC for no commodity.
- Telangana: the food security card is commonly called the white ration card; see our Telangana white card page.
- Jharkhand: the green card is a state scheme card for poor families left out of NFSA lists; see our green ration card guide.
For states missing from this list, the code on your e-card and the state portal's help page are the safest guide.
BPL ration card download and AAY or PHH card download
There is no separate download for each type. You download your family card from the state portal and the category is printed on it. Use the Aadhaar route or the card number route, then look for the category field. For a white ration card download in Telangana or an AAY card in any state, the steps are the same as for any card.
BPL ration card list and Antyodaya ration card list
States publish shop wise lists where each family appears with its category. To find out if you are in the AAY or PHH list, open the state report by district, block or town and shop, then look for the head of family's name. Our ration card list guide shows how this works in different states. Names missing from the list usually mean the card is in another category, inactive, or pending eKYC.
APL to BPL and NPHH to PHH: asking for a change
A category change is a request, not a right on demand. The state checks income, land, vehicles, government jobs and similar conditions, and there may be a limit on how many priority cards the state can give. Some portals, like Tamil Nadu's, have a card category change service online. In other states you write to the supply office with an income certificate and any proof of hardship. A bpl ration card status check for such a request uses the acknowledgement number on the application status page.
Questions people ask
Is a BPL card the same as a PHH card?
In most states, families once called BPL now hold PHH or AAY cards under NFSA. The state may still print BPL on its own card or forms.
How to download BPL ration card online?
Download your family e-card from the state food portal using the card number, Aadhaar or registered mobile. The category is printed on the card; there is no separate BPL download.
Can an APL ration card apply online for grain?
Non-priority cards get grain only if the state runs its own scheme for them. Otherwise the card serves as an address and family proof. Ask your state portal or dealer what your card type receives.
How to change NPHH to PHH ration card online?
Use the category change service on the state portal if one exists, attaching income proof. The supply office verifies and decides; there is no automatic change.
How do I check white ration card status?
In Telangana, check the food security card on the state portal under its card search or application status menu. Our Telangana white card page gives the steps.
Does the card type affect One Nation One Ration Card?
Yes. Only AAY and PHH cards, the two NFSA groups, can take ration at shops in another state. State scheme cards work only inside their own state.