CM to Launch Smart Ration Card

3.43 crore beneficiaries with 1.06 crore cards covered under food security programme

metro india news I hyderabad

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will launch the statewide distribution of new smart ration cards at a major public programme in Sangareddy on Independence Day, August 15, marking a major expansion of Telangana’s food-security network, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said on Tuesday.

Reviewing preparations for the programme with senior officials including the Commissioner for Civil Supplies,  Stephen Ravindra and Civil Supplies Corporation Additional Director, Rohit Singh, the Minister said the smart ration card distribution by the Chief Minister at Sangareddy would be followed by simultaneous programmes at all 33 district headquarters, ensuring that the initiative assumes the character of a statewide beneficiary programme.

The Minister , who also spoke to the Sangareddy district Collector, Prateek Jain at his chambers earlier in the day,  said Telangana now has about 1.06 crore ration cards covering 3.43 crore beneficiaries, with every eligible beneficiary entitled to six kg of fine rice free of cost every month.  He directed the Civil Supplies Department and district administrations to make elaborate arrangements for the August 15 rollout and ensure that beneficiaries face no inconvenience.

The Minister said the Sangareddy programme would be organised as a major public event, with detailed planning for the movement of beneficiaries, seating, security, distribution arrangements and the Chief Minister’s schedule. Officials were asked to prepare a minute-to-minute programme so that the event concludes within the stipulated time and the Chief Minister’s is not delayed for important events scheduled in the later part of the day. 

The public programme is proposed between approximately 2.30 pm and 3.35 pm, while the Chief Minister’s departure from Sangareddy has to be scheduled at around 3.45 pm. Uttam Kumar Reddy stressed that speeches and other proceedings should therefore be strictly time-bound. Official invitations with complete programme details should be extended to MPs, MLAs, MLCs and other elected representatives concerned.

The Minister asked officials to identify genuine beneficiaries representing different sections for the presentation of smart ration cards by the Chief Minister. The cards should be prepared in the prescribed laminated format and their distribution subsequently organised in an orderly manner. Uttam Kumar Reddy favoured distribution through Fair Price Shops or agencies thoroughly associated with the exercise so that the beneficiary identity could be authenticated before handing over the cards, thereby ensuring transparency and avoiding disputes.

He also asked the Civil Supplies Department to communicate detailed guidelines to Collectors for programmes in the remaining districts. A reasonable expenditure framework should be worked out so that district administrations can make adequate arrangements without ambiguity over funding. Emphasising the enormous scale of Telangana’s food-security operations, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the State spends about Rs 14,000 crore annually on ration rice, apart from nearly Rs 20,000 crore on paddy procurement.

Since January 26, 2025, the Telangana Government has issued 16,32,810 new Food Security Cards. These cards cover 61,08,544 beneficiaries. As of August 2026, the State has a total of 1,06,28,092 Food Security Cards. Together, these cards provide food-security coverage to 3.43 crore beneficiaries. The introduction of smart ration cards will further strengthen transparency, efficiency and convenience in the public distribution system.

He said such a massive welfare intervention should be effectively communicated to the public through print, electronic and social media. Short videos, reels and other digital content should explain the scale of ration-card coverage, free fine-rice distribution and the beneficiaries being served. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to complete all preparations well ahead of August 15 and ensure that the Sangareddy launch and simultaneous district programmes are conducted in a disciplined, beneficiary-friendly and dignified manner.