How to Apply for Ration Card Online in Karnataka (2026)

Looking for the general India-wide process? Read our national guide on how to apply for a ration card online.

A ration card in Karnataka gives you access to subsidised rice, wheat, sugar, and kerosene through the Public Distribution System (PDS). The Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Department manages ration cards through the AHARA (Aadhaar-enabled Household Application for Ration Assistance) system.

This guide walks you through the complete process of applying for a new ration card in Karnataka — online, step by step.

Who Can Apply?

You can apply for a ration card in Karnataka if:

• You are a resident of Karnataka
• You are the head of a household (or an authorised family member)
• You do not already hold a ration card in any state
• You have an Aadhaar card (mandatory for AHARA system)

Types of Ration Cards in Karnataka

Note: Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), Karnataka uses Priority Household (PHH) and Non-Priority Household (NPHH) categories. PHH roughly maps to BPL/AAY, and NPHH to APL.

Documents Required

Keep these documents ready before you start:

Mandatory Documents

• Aadhaar card of the head of the family and all family members
• Address proof — any one of: electricity bill, water bill, rent agreement, property tax receipt, or Bhoomi land record
• Income certificate — issued by the Tahsildar or Revenue Department
• Passport-size photographs — of the head of the family (2 copies)

Additional Documents (if applicable)

• Bhoomi RTC (Record of Rights, Tenancy, and Crops) — if you own agricultural land, this helps verify your rural address and income status. You can download it from landrecords.karnataka.gov.in
• Marriage certificate — for newly married applicants splitting from a parent's ration card
• Death certificate — if applying after the death of the previous card holder
• Migration certificate — if you moved from another state and are surrendering your old ration card

Step-by-Step: Apply Online Through AHARA Portal

Step 1: Visit the AHARA Portal

Go to ahara.kar.nic.in in your browser. This is the official portal of the Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Department.

Step 2: Register or Log In

• If you are a new user, click on "New User Registration"
• Enter your Aadhaar number and mobile number
• You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number — enter it to verify
• Set a password for your account
• If you already have an account, simply log in with your Aadhaar number and password

Step 3: Select "Apply for New Ration Card"

After logging in:

• Go to "Services" or "Apply Online" section
• Click on "New Ration Card Application"
• Select the type of ration card you are applying for (BPL, APL, AAY)

Step 4: Fill in the Application Form

The form will ask for:

• Head of family details — name, Aadhaar number, age, gender, occupation, mobile number
• Family member details — name, Aadhaar number, age, and relationship with head of family for each member
• Address details — district, taluk, gram panchayat/ward, village/city, door number, PIN code
• Income details — annual household income, source of income
• Existing ration card details — if you are transferring or splitting from another card, enter those details
• Preferred fair price shop — select the nearest PDS shop where you want to collect rations

Tip: The AHARA system pulls some details automatically from Aadhaar. Make sure your Aadhaar address is updated to your current Karnataka address. If not, update it on the UIDAI portal first.

Step 5: Upload Documents

Upload scanned copies of:

• Aadhaar card (head of family)
• Address proof
• Income certificate
• Photograph
• Any additional documents (Bhoomi RTC, marriage/death certificate, etc.)

File format: PDF or JPEG, typically under 200 KB per document.

Step 6: Review and Submit

• Carefully review all the information you entered
• Check that all uploaded documents are readable
• Click "Submit"
• You will receive an application reference number — save this number! You need it to track your application

Application Fee

Fees may be paid online during the application or at the nearest Karnataka One / Bangalore One centre.

Processing Time

• Typical processing time: 15 to 30 working days
• Verification visit: A Food Inspector from your local taluk office will visit your address for physical verification within 7–15 days of submission
• Final approval: The designated officer (usually the Tahsildar or Deputy Director of Food & Civil Supplies) approves the card after verification

Be available at your address during the verification window. If the inspector cannot verify your residence, the application may be delayed or rejected.

How to Track Your Application

1. Visit ahara.kar.nic.in
2. Log in to your account
3. Go to "Track Application" or "Application Status"
4. Enter your application reference number
5. You will see the current status — submitted, under verification, approved, or rejected

You will also receive SMS updates on your registered mobile number at each stage.

Offline Alternative: Apply Through Karnataka One Centre

If you are not comfortable applying online, you can visit any Karnataka One or Bangalore One centre:

1. Carry all original documents and photocopies
2. The centre operator will fill in the online form on your behalf
3. Pay the nominal service charge (₹25–₹50 at the centre)
4. Collect your acknowledgement receipt with the reference number

You can also apply through your local Taluk office or Gram Panchayat office in rural areas.

Bhoomi Integration: How It Helps

Karnataka's Bhoomi system (online land records) is linked with several government services. While Bhoomi is not directly required for ration card applications, it helps in these ways:

• Address verification for rural applicants — your Bhoomi RTC can serve as strong address proof
• Income estimation — land ownership details from Bhoomi can support or verify your income certificate
• Faster processing — when your land records are already digitised, officials can cross-verify faster

Download your Bhoomi RTC from landrecords.karnataka.gov.in and upload it as a supporting document.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Your application may be rejected if:

• Aadhaar details do not match the information you entered
• You already have a ration card in Karnataka or another state (checked via NFSA deduplication)
• Address proof is insufficient or does not match your current location
• Income certificate is invalid or expired
• Verification failed — inspector could not confirm your residence

If rejected, you will receive a reason. Fix the issue and reapply.

Useful Tips

• Update Aadhaar first: If you recently moved to Karnataka, update your Aadhaar address before applying. The AHARA system validates against Aadhaar data.
• Link Aadhaar for all family members: Every member on the ration card must have their Aadhaar linked. For children under 5 who don't have Aadhaar, the parent's Aadhaar is accepted temporarily.
• Check your fair price shop: After the card is issued, verify which PDS shop you are assigned to. You can check this on the AHARA portal.
• eKYC at the shop: When you visit the fair price shop for the first time, you will need to do Aadhaar-based biometric authentication (eKYC) to collect your rations.
• Ration card is also an ID proof: A Karnataka ration card is accepted as address and identity proof for many other government services.

Quick Summary

For the general process applicable across all Indian states, see our national guide to applying for a ration card online.