New Delhi: In a major overhaul of the city’s public distribution framework, Delhi govt has notified Delhi Food Security Rules, 2026, raising the annual family income eligibility limit for ration card holders from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.2 lakh. Those applying for new cards will have to submit a family income certificate issued by Delhi revenue department. It has also introduced digital-only applications, stricter screening and a time-bound grievance redressal system.Issued under National Food Security Act, 2013, the new rules aim to refine the beneficiary base, plug leakages and strengthen accountability in the delivery of subsidised food grains.
The rules spell out clear exclusion criteria. Households will not be eligible if any member owns property in A to E category colonies, pays income tax, owns a four-wheeler (except one commercial vehicle used for livelihood), has an electricity connection above 2 kilowatt, is employed in govt or govt-linked institutions or already receives food subsidy under another central or state scheme.From now on, the eldest woman in a household will be treated as its head. If she is below 18, the eldest male member will act as the head until she becomes an adult.“Applications must be submitted online with Aadhaar details of all family members, proof of residence, income certificate, existing ration card details, if any, and a self-declaration that the household does not fall under the categories fit for exclusion,” a govt official said.The rules also state that, to scrutinise the applications, each district will have a committee under the chairmanship of the district magistrate or an authorised officer. The panel will include two MLAs, a sub-divisional magistrate and the assistant commissioner (food and supplies) as its member-secretary.Ration cards across the city will be distributed on a district-wise basis depending on the number of voters, with a provision for a 20% waiting list over and above sanctioned vacancies.A two-tier grievance redressal system will be set up. “An internal mechanism within the food and supplies department will address complaints at circle, district and state levels. Urgent complaints like fair price shops not opening, overcharging, under-weighing of or non-distribution of essential commodities must be resolved within 24 hours, though the preferred time limit is two hours. Other complaints are to be disposed of within 15 days,” the official said.“If the complaints still remain unresolved, they can be escalated to the district grievance redressal officer, who will typically be the additional district magistrate. There is a provision to appeal against this officer’s orders before the state food commission within 30 days,” the official added.The rules also mandate vigilance committees at state, district, circle and fair price shop levels, with mandatory representation from scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, women, minorities and persons with disabilities. “The rules will help improve transparency, accountability and timely grievance disposal in the city’s public distribution system,” said the official.
