New Ration Rules: Big Change in Ration From 2026! Which Card Gets Less Rice, More Wheat? Here Is The New List
New Ration Rules: The ration system is a crucial lifeline for the common people of West Bengal. Starting from the beginning of 2026, a significant change is set to be implemented in this distribution system. This news is particularly important for those holding ration cards issued by the Central Government. According to the new guidelines from the Food Department, there will be a reshuffling in the allocation of rice and wheat starting next January. However, there is good news for holders of the State Government’s own scheme cards. In this report, we will discuss in detail what changes are coming for which card.
Ration items will continue to be distributed under the current rules until December 2025. This means only a few days remain under the old system. Following this, the new rules will come into effect from January 2026. Beneficiaries should note that while the quantity of allocation is changing, the policy of providing all items completely free of cost remains in place. Currently, five types of cards are prevalent in the state: AAY, PHH, SPHH, and the State Government’s RKSY-1 and RKSY-2. Let us look at the list of changes according to the cards.
New Rules for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) Card
For the poorest families holding the Antyodaya or AAY card, items are distributed per family, not per member. For this card, the quantity of rice has been reduced while the quantity of wheat has been increased.
| Food Grain | Current Allocation | New Allocation (From Jan 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Rice | 19 kg (Per Family) | 15 kg (Per Family) |
| Wheat | 14 kg (Per Family) | 20 kg (Per Family) |
| Atta (Instead of Wheat) | 13 kg 300 gm | 19 kg |
Major Changes in PHH and SPHH Cards
For Priority Household (PHH) and Special Priority Household (SPHH) cards, ration is given on a per head basis. For these two categories of cards, the Central Government has decided to reduce the rice quota and increase the wheat quota.
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Join on TelegramThe new structure is as follows:
- Rice: Previously, 3 kg of rice was available per head, which will be reduced to 2 kg from January 2026.
- Wheat: Previously, 2 kg of wheat was available per head, which is being increased to 3 kg.
- Atta: If flour (Atta) is provided instead of wheat, beneficiaries will now get 2 kg 850 gm of Atta per head instead of the previous 1 kg 900 gm.
Is There Any Change in State Government Cards (RKSY-1 & RKSY-2)?
Many had questions about whether there would be any changes to the State Food Security Scheme cards. The State Government has not made any changes to the rules for these cards.
- RKSY-1 Card: Beneficiaries will continue to get 5 kg of rice per head free of cost, just like before.
- RKSY-2 Card: Holders of this card will also receive 2 kg of rice per head free of cost.
- It is worth noting that wheat or flour is not provided on these two state cards; only rice remains allocated.
In summary, for central cards, there is a greater emphasis on wheat over rice, leading to an increase in the wheat quantity. Checking this list before going to the ration shop next year will help avoid confusion.
