Andhra Pradesh’s Civil Supplies, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Nadendla Manohar announced that six key ration card services are now accessible via WhatsApp. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, May 11, he said that residents can now apply for a new ration card, update their address, add or remove family members, or surrender their existing card by simply sending a message on WhatsApp.
He added that the newly introduced smart ration cards are already available at village and ward secretariats. With the WhatsApp integration, applicants can now complete these services from the comfort of their homes.
Andhra Pradesh currently has 1,46,21,223 rice card holders, covering approximately 4.24 crore beneficiaries. Over 6.47 lakh individuals — including children under five and people over 80 — are exempt from completing eKYC. Those who do complete eKYC will be issued a new smart ration card free of cost.
The government has also extended rice card eligibility to single individuals, unmarried people over 50, separated spouses, residents of orphanages, and transgender persons. Artists receiving social security pensions and members of 12 hill tribes are eligible to receive 35 kg of rice under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), a national food security scheme.