New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the government is working on the process of making 'One Nation, One Ration Card' a reality soon. ALSO READ | 80 Cr People To Get Free Food Grains Till November-End, Says PM Modi In His Address To Nation

In his national address on Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister announced various relief packages for the needy and poor sections of the society which require free food facilities during the pandemic, upcoming festival months and even during the time when they are bound to shift from one city to the another in search of employment.

Rolling out centre's plan over the ration scheme for such sections, Modi said, "We are planning to bring 'One Nation, One Ration Card'. Now a ration card is also being arranged for the whole of India. The biggest benefit of this will be to those poor colleagues who leave their village and go elsewhere for employment or other needs."


PM Modi further in his speech expressed his gratitude and thanked farmers and taxpayers of India for enabling the government to rollout PDS and other welfare schemes for the needy.

"Today, if the government is able to provide free food grains to the poor & the needy, the credit goes to two sections. First, the hardworking farmers of our country and second, the honest taxpayers. I thank you from my heart," PM Modi said.

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What is One Nation One Ration Card?

The 'One Nation One Ration Card' Scheme is also known as National Portability Cards (NPS) which will leverage technology and help labourers access ration under the Public Distribution System (PDS) from any fair price shop across the country.

As announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in May, under the 'One Nation One Ration Card' Scheme, "Anyone, irrespective of where they are - whichever state or UT they are in - can avail ration." This means that once the card is being launched, a person's ration card will be valid across the country and they don't need to make a separate ration card if they migrate to another state.

As claimed by the government, 67 crore beneficiaries in 23 states covering 83 per cent of PDS population will be covered by national portability by August 2020, and will be made 100 per cent by March 2021.