Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs
GS II – Governance
What is a PHH Card?
PHH stands for Priority Households.
A PHH card is a type of ration card issued under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. It is given to economically vulnerable households to ensure access to subsidized foodgrains and related welfare schemes.
Legal and Policy Framework
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Under: NFSA, 2013
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Implemented by: State governments under guidelines from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
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Target: To cover up to:
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75% of rural population
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50% of urban population
under subsidized food distribution
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Who are PHH Card Holders?
They are households identified as vulnerable or low-income and eligible to receive subsidized foodgrains from the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Criteria for PHH Eligibility
(Note: Criteria vary slightly by state, but generally include the following factors):
| Category | Eligibility Indicators |
|---|---|
| Economic | Household income below a certain threshold (often < ₹10,000–₹15,000/month) |
| Occupational | Daily wage workers, landless labourers, marginal farmers, construction workers |
| Social | SC/ST, single women-headed households, persons with disability |
| Exclusion Criteria | Government employees, income taxpayers, vehicle owners (4-wheelers), large landowners are usually excluded |
Each state prepares its own Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC)-based priority list for PHH inclusion.
Benefits for PHH Card Holders
Under NFSA, PHH households get:
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5 kg of foodgrains per person per month:
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₹3/kg for rice
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₹2/kg for wheat
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₹1/kg for coarse grains
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Subsidized LPG under PM Ujjwala Yojana if eligible
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Access to Ayushman Bharat, PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), and other welfare schemes
Recent Developments
1. LPG Subsidy for PHH Households Extended (2024–25)
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Government extended the ₹300 per LPG cylinder subsidy to PMUY beneficiaries, many of whom are PHH card holders, until March 2025.
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Subsidy limited to 12 cylinders/year.
2. PHH Beneficiary Verification Drive
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States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan launched a PHH Ration Card Verification Campaign in early 2025 to weed out ineligible households.
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Use of Aadhaar authentication and income tax database to identify fake or duplicate cards.
3. Digital PDS & Smart Ration Cards
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States are digitizing PHH cards into smart cards to:
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Ensure portability (One Nation, One Ration Card)
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Reduce fraud
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Enable biometric e-KYC
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4. Proposal to Cap Subsidy Cylinders
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Government is considering limiting the LPG subsidy for PHH families from 12 to 4 cylinders/year, citing average usage statistics and fiscal pressure.