The State of Tamil Nadu follows Universal Public Distribution System where classifications such as BPL, APL, do not exist. Even though, the State has implemented National Food Security Act from November 2016, by following the pattern of supply of Rice as mandated under NFSA with the protection of erstwhile scale of supply for all Rice cardholders retaining the Universal character of Public Distribution System in Tamil Nadu.
As you all may be aware that the state and Central governments are trying to make available all kinds of services and applications under various schemes through digital mode. The governments are taking this initiative in order to make application procedures simple and accessible to all. The Government of Tamil Nadu has also made available applications and other services related to ration cards online through TNPDS. This card will be available in digital format. Through this article, we are going to provide you with information related to this smart ration card. By reading this article you will get details regarding how you can apply online? Download TNPDS Ration Cards, check status, or view the beneficiary list. Other than that you will also get details regarding objectives, benefits, features, eligibility criteria, etc.
TNPDS Structure
The structure of PDS in the state of Tamil Nadu follows a functional pattern involving procurement, storage, distribution of foodgrains on the one hand and distributing the food items to people through an extensive network of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) and monitoring of movement of essential commodities and enforcement actions against infraction of guidelines, procedure and malpractices.
Agencies involved in the PDS operation are
- Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department
- Tamilnadu Civil Supplies Corporation
- Food Corporation of India
- Cooperative societies and
- Women Self-Help groups
Tamil Nadu Digital Ration Card
There are four types of digital ration cards available for residents of Tamil Nadu State. The list of different types of ration cards is given below:-
The total number of smart family cards in circulation as on 31.07.2019 is 2,05,06,522.
- PHH Card holders can draw all essential commodities from the FPS. PHH cards in circulation as on 31.07.2019 is, 78,18,470.
- PHH-AAY Card holders can draw all essential commodities including 35 kg of rice from the FPS. PHH-AAY cards in circulation as on 31.07.2019 is, 18,59,283.
- NPHH Card holders can draw all essential commodities from the FPS. NPHH cards in circulation as on 31.07.2019 is, 93,34,945.
- NPHH-S Card holders can draw all essential commodities except rice from the FPS. NPHH-S cards in circulation as on 31.07.2019 is, 10,16,733.
- NPHH- NC card holders does not draw any commodity from the FPS. NPHH-NC cards in circulation as on 31.07.2019 is, 47,282.
- Police cards are given to police personnel up to the level of Inspectors who can draw essential commodities like rice, sugar, wheat, palm oil, Toor dhall at 50% of PDS issue price. Kerosene is made available at PDS rate. Police cards in circulation as on 31.07.2019 is, 56,748.
A ration card is a document through which citizens can get a ration at a subsidized price from a fair price shop. The government of Tamil Nadu has launched a TNPDS smart ration card for the citizens of Tamil Nadu. Now Citizens are not required to carry ration cards in physical form as this card will be available in digital form. Availability of smart ration cards will prevent fraudulent practices and cut down printing and distribution costs of ration cards. The distribution of ration cards will also become less time-consuming. Other than that citizens are not required to visit government offices in order to apply for ration cards as the Government of Tamil Nadu has launched an official portal. Through this portal, citizens can apply for ration cards.
Important Documents
The following documents are required while applying for the digital ration card in Tamil Nadu:-
- Aadhar Card
- Pan Card
- Recent Size Photography Pass
- Bank passbook
- Caste/Category certificate
- Income certificate
- Electricity bill
TNPDS Ration Card Online Application Form simple steps
- First, visit the official website of the TNPDS department.

- Click on the smart card application option present on the home page.
- Click on the direct link given here
- Register yourself at the portal.
- Fill the application form by providing all the basic details.
- Attach all the asked documents.
- Add family member details, gas connection details, and declaration
- Click on Submit
- A reference number will be generated keep safe for future use

TNPDS Smart Ration Card Mobile Apps Available
You can also download a Play Store app and apply for the card through the mobile application. The link for the app is given below:-
Procedure to Add Member
- First of all, you have to go to the official website of the department of food supply and consumer protection, the government of Tamil Nadu

- The home page will open before you
- On the homepage, you are required to click on add member

- Now a new page will open in front of you where you have to enter your registered mobile number and captcha code
- After that, you have to click on the login.
- Now a new form will open before you where you have to enter all the required details
- After that, you have to attach all the important documents
- Now you have to click on submit
Procedure to Change the Address
- Go to the official website of the department of food supply and consumer protection, the government of Tamil Nadu
- The home page will open before you
- on the homepage, you are required to click on to change address

- Now you have to the login to the portal by entering the registered mobile number and captcha code
- After that, you have to enter all the required details
- Now upload all the important documents
- After that click on submit
Change the Head of the Family
- Visit the official website of the department of food supply and consumer protection, the government of Tamil Nadu
- The home page will open before you
- On the homepage, you are required to click on change the head of the family

- Now you have to log in on the portal by entering the details in the login form
- After that, you have to fill the required details
- Attach the required documents
- Now click on submit.
Remove the Family Member
- First of all, you have to go to the official website of the department of food supply and consumer protection, the government of Tamil Nadu
- The home page will open before you
- Now you have to click on remove the family member

- Now you have to log in on the portal by entering your registered mobile number and captcha code
- After that, a new form will open before you where you have to enter all the required details
- Now you have to upload the required documents
- Click on submit
TNPDS Smart Ration Card application status
To check the application status of your Tamil Nadu smart ration card, you can follow the simple steps given below:-
- First, visit the official website of TNPDS
- On the homepage, click on the Application status option.

- Or visit the link given here
- A new web page will appear on the screen.
- Enter your registration number.
- Click on the submit button.
- The application status will appear on your screen.
Process to Register Complain
To file any complaint in the Tamil Nadu Public Distribution system portal, you need to follow the simple steps given below:-
- First, visit the official website here.
- On the homepage, click on “Register a complaint” option

- Enter the following-
- Name
- Mobile no.
- Description of the complaint
- Click on submit
- Direct link to file a complaint
- Now Submit your Complaint
Procedure to Reprint Smart Card Status
- To reprint your smart card status, you need to open the official website

- On the home page select the “reprint smart card status” option available on the right-hand side

- On the opened page enter your registered mobile number and captcha code
- Select submit option and select view ration card status link
- The Status will appear, take a print out by giving the command
Procedure to Make Changes in Your Ration Card
- To make changes in your smart card, you need to open the official website
- On the home page select the option as per the change you want to make available on the right-hand side
- On the opened page enter your registered mobile number and captcha code
- Select the submit option and select the change as you want to make
- Provide the correct information as asked on the screen
- Upload the supportive documents of the information (if necessary)
- Submit the request by click the submit option after reviewing the information
Download Authorization Form Application
- Visit the official website of the TNPDS department
- The home page will open before you
- Now you have to click on the certificate of authorization

- As soon as you click on the link you will be redirected to a new page
- On this page, you will find the authorization form application in PDF format
- You have to click on the download option in order to download this form
Procedure To View Complaint Status
- First of all, go to the official website of the TNPDS department
- The home page will open before you
- On the homepage, you have to click on click here to register a complaint

- After that, you have to click on the complaint status

- Now you will be redirected to a new page where you have to enter your complaint registration number
- After that you have to click on to get the status of the complaint option
- Complaint status will be on your computer screen
Procedure to Change Card Type
- Visit the official website of the TNPDS department
- The home page will open before you
- On the homepage, you are required to click on click here to change their card type

- Now you will be redirected to a new page where you have to enter the mobile number and captcha code
- After that you have to click on register it
- Now you have to enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number into the OTP box
- After that you have to click on submit
- Now a form will open before you
- You have to enter all the required details in this form
- After that you have to click on submit
- By following this procedure you can change card type
Important Links To Track TNPDS Ration Card Tamil Nadu
Citizen login | Login |
Department login | Login |
TN Smart Ration Card Online Registration | Apply Here |
TN Smart Ration card status | Check Here |
Send Feedback/complain | Send Here |
Corrections of Details (Name, Age, etc.,) in smart ration card | Click Here |
Status of Request | Click Here |
Add Member in card | Click Here |
Change Sugar Card to Rice Card | Click Here |
Change of Address in card | Click Here |
Family Head Member Change | Click Here |
Remove Family Member from the ration card | Click Here |
Card Surrender / Cancellation for ration card | Click Here |
Card Related Service Request Status | Click Here |
Helpdesk Contact Number
For any query related to the smart card, you may contact on 1967 or 1800-425-5901. Please send the code to 9773904050 from their registered mobile number. Short Code Description:
- PDS <Space> 101 – Item Details at Fair Price Store
- PDS <Space> 102 – Fair Price Outlet (Opened / Closed)
- PDS <Space> 107 – for a complaint of payment amount
Conclusion
Through this article, we have covered all the information regarding TNPDS Smart Ration Card. If you are still facing any problem then you can contact the helpline number or can even write an email to the department of food supply and consumer protection, Government of Tamil Nadu. The helpline number and email ID is as follows:-
- Helpline Number- 1967 or 18004255901
- Email Id- suppprt@tnpds.com