The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday (May 17, 2026) said that by opening applications for two lakh new ration cards, the BJP government has fulfilled yet another of its 2025 election promises. 

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva on Sunday (May 17, 2026) appealed to all district presidents and mandal presidents of Delhi BJP to create awareness among the people of Delhi about getting ration cards made and to assist them in filing online applications so that the benefits of public welfare schemes of the Central and Delhi Governments can reach every needy citizen.

In its election manifesto, the BJP had promised to increase the coverage under the Public Distribution System (PDS) by issuing new ration cards. 

From May 15, the Department of Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs started accepting fresh applications for ration cards and for addition of members will be accepted through the eDistrict Portal (edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in). Old and long-pending applications are being returned to the applicants’ e-District login for resubmission with the required Family Income Certificate issued by the jurisdictional Revenue Authority, according to officials. 

This was possible as the government ran a drive to verify and delete names from the ration cards of fake entries and people who have died, according to officials. 

The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), allows for coverage of 37.69% of the rural and 43.59% of the urban population for the NCT of Delhi, for receiving free of cost foodgrains, which according to the 2011 Census comes to 72.77 lakh persons. 

For several years, there have been lakhs of pending applications as the Delhi had maxed out on this limit and it could be increased only after a fresh census, as per officials. 

The previous AAP government had requested the Central government on multiple occasions to increase the limit of 72.77 lakh people, so that the government can issue new ration cards, as the 2021 Census was delayed. 

On Sunday (May 17, 2026), Mr. Sachdeva alleged that with the overwhelming support of the people of Delhi, the BJP government in Delhi is gradually moving towards fulfilling each and every promise ahead of the 2025 Delhi Assembly election and the Delhi government is set to begin the process of issuing ration cards in Delhi from next week.

Mr. Sachdeva claimed that during the past eight years, the AAP government in Delhi made tall claims, but “failed” to provide poor people with an essential document like a ration card, due to which poor families were forced to purchase ration from the open market.

“After more than 8 years, the process of issuing approximately 2 lakh new ration cards in Delhi will begin from next week, and to maintain transparency in this process, applications will be accepted only online,” the Delhi BJP president said.