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Essay On One Nation One Ration Card | Advantage & Disadvantage

Essay On One Nation One Ration Card

H ello, Friend Jai Hind …In this post “ Essay On One Nation One Ration Card “, we will read about the One Nation One Ration Card Scheme as an Essay in detail with all its Advantages and Disadvantages in 1500+ Words …

Note: This “ Essay On One Nation One Ration Card” is a result of deep research and hard work . it takes a lot of time to write, it is beneficial for all competitive exams .

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Essay On One Nation One Ration Card | Advantage & Disadvantage

Introduction

I t is said that necessity is the mother of invention, at the present time when the whole world is facing the corona crisis, new measures are being emphasized to solve the problems.

The problem of the maintenance of migrant laborers in the country is emerging during lockdown times.

The reason for this is that the states in which those people have gone to work are not getting the benefit of the Public Distribution System due to the lack of ration cards of those states.

To give the benefit to the Public Distribution System , the S tate Government gives ration cards to its citizens, and through this card, a consumer resident of one state cannot use that card in another state but now the C entral Government has implemented One Nation One Ration Card Scheme .

Under this scheme, consumers using the ration card of one state will be able to avail of the same benefits that they get in their home state by using it in any other state of the country.

Although it started in April 2018 when the Integrated Management of Public Distribution System i.e IMPDS was launched for the purpose of improving PDS , due to many problems, it could not be extended in due time.

One Nation One Ration Card Scheme ‘ was launched in four states on a pilot basis in 2019 by Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan , now the scheme was available across the country from 1st July 2020 .

After the One Nation One Ration Card Scheme , people going to work from one state to another state will also get the benefit of government ration .

612 lakh tonnes of food grains are given to 81 crore people every year through ration cards . As per the reports of the ministry of home affairs , there are 4 crore migrant workers in India .

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What is the One Nation One Ration Card Scheme?

U nder the One Nation One Ration Card Scheme , the beneficiaries under the Public Distribution System will be able to get food grains in any state or union territory.

The poor migrant laborers can get ration from any Public Distribution System shop in the country under the scheme. For example, if a UP worker goes to work in Delhi, he can get a subsidized ration in Delhi on the same ration card .

Apart from this, if a person goes to work from one district to another district within his state, then he can get the facility through ration card there too.

For this, it will be necessary to make the ration card portable and the ration card will have to be linked with the Aadhar card .

If a state is running some kind of food security scheme at its level, then the migrants of that state will not be able to get this facility in any other state.

Actually, there is a difference in the rules of the states in the Public Distribution System , in some states grains are given at a lower price than the central government , while in many states the number of items found is more.

One Nation One Ration Card Scheme can be implemented in those ration shops where the point of sale (POS) machine is available.

The objective of implementing this scheme is to ensure that no poor person is deprived of subsidized food grains .

In the initial period, there are 12 states who join the National Portability under this scheme. On 1 May 2020 , the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution added 8 more states to it.

So far, 68.5 crore beneficiaries from a total of 28 states and union territories have been associated with this scheme. The government claims that 100% of beneficiaries will be added to it by March 2021 .

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The benefit of One Nation One Ration Card Scheme

• O ne Nation One Ration Card system is related to the responsibility of the migrants. Usually, there is a huge cost in identifying the beneficiaries, there are many errors related to inclusion and exclusion. If a migrant family changes their place of residence, then they face many obstacles to get subsidized ration again . But the biggest advantage of this scheme is that the laborer can easily get ration at the working place without any formalities.
• A nother benefit is that this scheme will also eliminate the problem of fake ration cards . By essentially linking all ration cards to Aadhaar and the details of all consumers coming to the “ point of sale ” machine, no person can keep a fake ration card . Because the machines of all PDS shops will be linked to each other.
• P artial or seasonal migration in India has become a common scenario. Sometimes people migrate only for 5-6 months and come back to their homes. It is also seen that only one member of the family migrates for work while the rest of the family stays at home, The third advantage of this scheme for such people is that each member can get his share of ration from any place. In such a situation, this system can prove to be very profitable, so that the migrant will be able to take food anywhere, while his family can get their share of ration in their village itself. Although there will be some problems with this system, technically it is possible to do so.
• T he distribution of ration is done by fair price shops. But there have been many cases when beneficiaries have complained of discrimination by dealers. Usually, this discrimination is seen in the context of providing quality services. In such a situation, the fourth advantage is that under the One Nation One Ration Card Scheme , the beneficiaries will get the opportunity to choose the dealer of their choice . If a dealer makes a mess in the allocation of ration, the beneficiary can immediately take service of another shop. It is generally seen that social identity and power-related factors become an obstacle to the success of the social distribution system.
• D ue to this scheme, an effort has been made to improve the Public Distribution System through competition. In this form, the One Nation One Ration Card is a scheme to encourage competition and divert bargaining power from dealer to beneficiary. This scheme will give the beneficiaries the opportunity to choose those ration shops which ensure better service . Obviously, this will encourage competition among dealers in a way that will provide better services to the people.
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Challenges of One Nation One Ration Card Scheme

• S ome people in the country are also required to migrate for their livelihood . He stays out of the house for a few months and comes back to his home. If on migration, he changes his ration shop and has to come back and do it again, there may be a technical problem in updating the data again and again.
• T he second challenge related to this is supply chain management , in fact, the intention of the states is not taken into consideration that, when they give their ration to the people of another state , So how will the supply of the decreasing ration in their state be supplied?
• A t any ration shop it is determined that, according to how many ration cards are connected there, the ration reaches there only. In such a situation, if the number of people in a shop increases, then there will be a shortage of ration . it is not even known that consumers who grow this month will stay here or will go away next month. In this situation, the entire supply chain management will have to be improved.
• T here is a problem in this that if there is less allocation of grains in a state than the prescribed quantity, then it can be seen as a tussle between the states. This is the reason that many states also opposed it. In states like Bihar, UP, whose residents go to work in other states, their allocation may be reduced.
• A “ point of sale ” machine is used for the implementation of this scheme. It is operated through the Internet but Internet service in rural areas is often interrupted. In such a situation, basic infrastructure needs to be improved for better implementation of this scheme.
• A adhar biometric can create constraints in the smooth food supply for migrants workers. Overall, many challenges exist in the way of the success of the program.
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Conclusion (Essay On One Nation One Ration Card)

O ne Nation One Ration Card Scheme based on the digitization of Aadhar card and ration card .

PDS can be combined with a rating system, by studying this rating, the government can improve it through monitoring and control. But for the success of this system, it is necessary to have unified information like App based services .

The One Nation One Ration Card Scheme has the potential to improve PDS results , but it requires that the entire chain be closely monitored and strengthened infrastructurally.

There is a need to ensure the availability of the “ point of sale ” system and its program at PDS shops so that there is no compromise with the rights of the beneficiaries.

It will also reduce the practice of black marketing at the PDFS shops . currently, the PDS shop owner sells those food grains in the market in the absence of actual beneficiaries .

But there are many sections of the society that still don’t have Aadhar cards , thereby depriving them of food security .

Overall, to eliminate the problem of hunger and malnutrition in the country, the implementation of the One Nation One Ration Card Scheme is the need of the hour.

Although there are many challenges in its path, if this scheme is implemented with an efficient strategy , then it will surely play an important role in improving the nutritional level of the poor section of society .

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One Nation One Ration Card Scheme

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution rolled out a pilot scheme titled, One Nation One Ration Card Scheme in four states on a pilot basis in 2019. 12 states were added on 1st January 2020. It was reported by the Central Government that about 86% beneficiaries under the NFSA were brought under the One Nation One Ration Card plan.

Another recent change is with regards to food security of migrant workers. In this scheme, beneficiaries can lift their entitled foodgrains from any electronic point of sale (ePoS) enabled FPS in the country through portability. “Portability gives that choice, while at the same time enabling the family back home to draw the remainder of the eligible ration,” the government explained.

Latest update on One Nation One Ration Card Scheme-

• The Centre has informed that with Assam implementing the ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ (ONORC) scheme, its pan-India rollout is now complete. All 36 states and union territories,  are now under the ambit of the Central government’s ambitious programme, making food security portable throughout the country.
• Subsidised food grains worth Rs 40,000 crore is delivered to beneficiaries through portability.
• Since the launch of ONORC, 710 million portable transactions – 436 million under National Food Security Act (NFSA) and 278 million under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyana Anna (PMGKAY) transactions have taken place under ONORC.
• Another dimension under the ONORC plan is the ‘Mera Ration’ mobile application which has been rolled out to take maximum advantage of the ONORC plan. The mobile app is providing a host of useful real time information to the beneficiaries and is available in 13 languages.

As of June 2021, four States/UTs of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and West Bengal were to be bought under the ONOR scheme. The aim of the scheme is to ensure hassle-free delivery of subsidized food grains to all migratory beneficiaries anywhere in the country through nation-wide portability under National Food Security Act (NFSA.)

The scheme is one of the important government schemes for the eligible beneficiaries under NFSA. Read the significance of one nation one ration card for UPSC exam preparation.

One Nation One Ration Card – UPSC Notes:- Download PDF Here

What is One Nation One Ration Card?

It is a national ration card that will enable migrant workers and their families to access the  public distribution system (PDS) benefits from any fair price shops across the country.

The characteristics of the ONORC are:

• Existing ration cards will be turned as one nation one ration card.
• It will be a universal ration card allotted to each beneficiary registered under NFSA.
• Using the ONORC, a beneficiary who migrates from one place to another can buy subsidized food grains from the fair price shop located in the destination city regardless of the origin of the beneficiaries.
• The beneficiaries will be identified through biometric authentication on electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices. These devices will be installed at each fair price shop.
• Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS) portal – It will provide the technological platform for the ration cards portability.
• Annavitran portal – It will host the data of the food grains distribution through ePoS devices within a state. This will help a beneficiary to access subsidized food grains within a state (inter-district.)
• Aadhar Cards will be seeded with ration cards which will help beneficiaries get the ration using the same ration card.

Read more about Aadhar usage in PDS in the linked article.

Objectives of One Nation One Ration Card Scheme

In simple words, the ONORC will bring the following changes:

• Reforms in the public distribution system.
• Access of food grains to each beneficiary.
• Integrating all the Indian states and UTs in the scheme by March 2021.

Salient Features of One Nation One Ration Card Scheme

• It is being implemented under the Integrated Management of PDS (IMPDS.)
• 65 crores beneficiaries are being covered under the ONORC scheme.
• 80 percent of beneficiaries registered under NFSA has been covered under the scheme.
• 25 states and UTs have been integrated into the scheme.
• 81 crores beneficiaries are reported to get the benefits of this scheme once all states/UTs will be integrated under the scheme.
• The government will come up with a helpline number to assist beneficiaries.

Benefits of the ONORC

The major benefit of the One Nation One Ration Card is as follows:

• Those agile of the ONORC will receive subsidised food grain from any Fair Price Shop in the country, immensely benefitting migrants staying in different parts of the country.
• With the ONORC, all the beneficiaries in one state can get the same fair rations in other states where the ration card was issued.
• In case of any foul play, a beneficiary can switch to an alternative FPS almost immediately.
• The scheme will be of benefit to women and other poorer sections of the society since social identity will be a strong factor in accessing PDS.
• The ONORC will help in achieving the target of eliminating hunger by 2030, given the fact that it has been ranked 102 out of 17 in the Global Hunger Index.

Challenges regarding the Implementation of the One Nation One Ration Card

• Exclusion Error: Once the PDS processes have been digitised through smart cards and Aadhar linking then leakages could be reduced, but there have been exclusion errors post Aadhar linking as of late.
• Lack of Data: There is a shortage of data on the population moving to other cities to work. As such it becomes a difficult task in identifying the beneficiaries as they move to different locations.

Domicile-Based Social Sector Schemes: Along with the PDS most of the welfare schemes and food security measures were based on historic domicile-based access and restricted welfare and entitlements at their places of origin, thus negating any chance of non-native population from accessing such benefits.

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Recently, the Supreme court observed that all states must implement the ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ scheme.

• The Supreme court had asked the government to detail its schemes to provide food to migrant workers hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

About the Scheme

• It was rolled out by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in 2019 in 4 states on a pilot basis.
• A card bearing 10 digit number will be issued to the complaint state’s BPL card holders which will be linked to AADHAR database.
• Beneficiaries can lift their entitled foodgrains from any electronic point of sale (ePoS) enabled FPS in the country through portability.
• This scheme will be instrumental in the welfare of migrant workers.

Image Courtesy: TH

Present Status 

• Despite the multitude of COVID-19 related challenges in the past year, a total of 32 States/UTs covering around 69 crore NFSA beneficiaries , i.e. 86% NFSA population in the country, were swiftly brought under the ONORC plan by December 2020.
• The integration of the remaining four States/UT of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and West Benga l is expected to be achieved, depending upon the technical readiness of these States to implement the portability of ration cards.
• The Supreme Court had recently pulled up the West Bengal government for delay in implementation of the ONORC plan in the State. 
• Huge Internal Migration : According to the 2011 census, there are 45 crore internal migrants who accounted for 37% of the population.
• Prevent Duplication and Double Benefits : It will help in reducing the number of dual ration cardholders.
• It will be in sync with the motto of Minimum Government Maximum Governance.
• Help in understanding migration pattern : The centralised FRP shop data may be used to formulate policies on intra- and inter-state migration.
• Better efficiency of Food Distribution Schemes : As per the reply to an RTI, over 40,000 tonnes of food grains, including wheat and rice, have rotted in the last six years. With ONORC those left out due to migration can take that food.
• Less Corruption and Exploitation : Different news articles have reported rampant corruption and exploitation for getting BPL cards by migrants in other states. It will reduce.
• Empowering BPL Card Holders: ONORC will give the deprived people the choice to choose from corrupt and well functioning FRP shops.
• Reduce Social Discrimination: It will reduce the role of social identities like caste, class and gender and power relations in availing the PDS facility by women and other disadvantaged class.
• Help towards fulfilling SDG 2 target of ending hunger by 2030: In the 2020 Global Hunger Index, India ranks 94th out of the 107 countries.
• Nutritional Security: With cheap food grain available to migrants, there are chances of more expenditure towards fruits and vegetables.

Criticism/Challenges

• As per the ‘2019 state of AADHAR survey’, 95 per cent of the adults in the country have AADHAR.
• It means the rest 5% may suffer from hunger due to non availability of AADHAR.
• Changes in Fingerprints have also been reported both due to genetics and due to constant wear and work-related wear and tear especially in case of labourers.
• Logistics Issue: There is a quota allocated to every state for the purchase of food grains from FCI.
• At places of emigration, food grain may get wasted.
• While the places where immigration is dominant may face a PDS food crunch.
• Also there is a lack of comprehensive data on migrants and their families.
• Domicile based Social Sector Schemes : There may be tensions over competition for state run social sector schemes due to Common Ration Card which is at present basis for availing such schemes.

Conclusion and Way Forward 

• Creation of dedicated ONORC e-platform based on Artificial Intelligence: It may be used to predict and issue the cards to migrants.
• Use of railways data : As shown in the Economic Survey, the preliminary data regarding migration may be taken up from IRCTC.
• Unorganised Sector Social Security Act 2008: It has provisions regarding documentation of unorganised informal sector workers at welfare boards.
• Impetus to BharatNet
• Deeper Internet Penetration should be promoted
• Constant monitoring and empowerment of Village Panchayats at least in the initial phase.
• Social Auditing may weed out any inclusion error and help in reducing exclusion error by recommending the names.
• The ONORC is just the first step of ensuring mass welfare. Its successful implementation may pave the way for interstate portability of Integrated Child Development Services, Mid-Day Meals, immunisation, health care and other facilities for poor migrant households.
• In the long run, PDS may be replaced by a food coupon system or direct benefit transfer for better compliance with World Trade Organisation Rules.

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‘One Nation One Ration Card Scheme’

Published: 10th Aug, 2019

One nation one ration card scheme was launched on a pilot basis in four states- Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

‘One Nation One Ration Card’ scheme

• Launched by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
• It will be available across the country from July 1, 2020.
• The main objective is to introduce nation-wide portability of ration card holders under National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA)
• It will allow portability of food security benefits e. to lift their entitlement food grains from any Fair Price Shop in the country
• This means poor migrant workers will be able to buy subsidised rice and wheat from any ration shop in the country , so long as their ration cards are linked to Aadhaar.
• It would integrate the existing PDS systems/portals of States/UTs with the Central systems/portals.

National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA)

The National Food Security Act, 2013 was enacted to provide for food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity.

• It provides for coverage of up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population for receiving subsidized food grains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
• The eligible persons will be entitled to receive 5 kgs of food grains per person per month at subsidized prices of Rs. 3/2/1 per Kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains.
• To ensure the food security of poorest of poor, the existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households will continue to receive 35 Kgs of foodgrains per household per month .
• Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a nutritious "take home ration" of 600 Calories, 18-20 grams of protein and a maternity benefit of at least Rs 6,000 for six months.
• The eldest women of the household of age 18 years or above will be the head of the household for the purpose of issuing ration cards.
• Children 6 months to 14 years of age are to receive free hot meals or "take home rations".
• States are the implementing agencies and the Central Government will be responsible to provide funds to states in case of short supplies of food grains .

Universal Public Distribution System (PDS)

Universal Public Distribution System (PDS) was introduced in India in 1965 to improve the health conditions and provide food grains to common people at affordable prices. It served the aim of

• Maintaining stability in the prices of essential commodities across regions
• Keeping a check on private trade, hoarding and black-marketing .

Targeted PDS (TPDS)

• The PDS was converted into Targeted PDS (TPDS) in 1997
• It classified population into Above Poverty Line (APL) and Below Poverty Line (BPL)
• Only those households classified as BPL were made eligible for subsidized purchase of commodities from the ration shops.

But the poorest of poor, Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households will continue to receive 35 Kgs of foodgrains per household per month.

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Home » Agriculture » Public Distribution System » Recent developments in PDS » One Nation One Ration Card Scheme

One Nation One Ration Card Scheme

The scheme which will allow portability of food security benefits. This means poor migrant workers will be able to buy subsidized rice and wheat from any ration shop in the country. Recently the Supreme Court (SC), asked the Union government to examine the feasibility of implementing the “one nation one ration card” (ONORC) scheme during the national lockdown. Consequently, Finance Minister announced the national rollout of a ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ system in all states and Union Territories by March 2021. As of now, about 20 states have come on board to implement the inter-state ration card portability.

Highlights of the scheme

• The poor migrant workers will be able to buy subsidised rice and wheat from any ration shop in the country but for that their ration cards must be linked to Aadhaar.
• Migrants would only be eligible for the subsidies supported by the Centre, which include rice sold at Rs. 3/kg and wheat at Rs. 2/kg, it would not include subsidies given by their respective state government in some other state.
• This scheme will ensure that no poor person is deprived of subsidised grains.
• The scheme can be implemented as already 77% of the ration shops across the country have PoS machines and more than 85% of people covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) have their cards linked to Aadhaar.
• For remaining beneficiaries, all the States have been given one more year to use point of sale (PoS) machines in the ration shops and implement the scheme.
• The new system, based on a technological solution, will identify a beneficiary through biometric authentication on electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices installed at the FPSs, and enable that person to purchase the quantity of foodgrains to which she is entitled under the NFSA.
• The Annavitran portal enables a migrant worker or his family to avail the benefits of PDS outside their district but within their state.
• While a person can buy her share of foodgrains as per her entitlement under the NFSA, wherever she is based, the rest of her family members can purchase subsidised foodgrains from their ration dealer back home.

Significance of Scheme

• India has had food security benefit schemes which have domicile based access.
• 36 crore people or 37% of the population is that of migrant labourers. The scheme is therefore important for anyone who is going to move from one place to the other.
• It happens that when one moves from one place to the other (for e.g. a government employee being transferred from one place to another), it takes about two to three months to get a ration card at that next place and then further more time to start getting commodities against the same.
• After the implementation of the scheme, it would be ensured that a migrant is able to access the benefits which are due to him in any part of the country.
• This would be ensured on the basis of Aadhaar authentication and a validated data.
• ONORC will be particularly beneficial for women and other disadvantaged groups, given how social identity (caste, class and gender) and other contextual factors (including power relations) provide a strong backdrop in accessing PDS.
• ONORC will give the beneficiaries the opportunity to opt for the dealer of their choice. If any dealer misbehaves or misallocates, the beneficiary can switch to another FPS shop instantly.
• ONORC lets the beneficiaries choose the PDS shop that best delivers on the attributes.
• In ONORC Scheme, the fundamental prerequisite is de-duplication so that it is ensured that the same person does not figure as a beneficiary in two different locations of the country.
• With the help of the scheme, the government would be able to rightly target the beneficiaries to provide them with the foodgrains under the PDS. The scheme is linked with Aadhaar and biometrics, this removes most possibilities of corruption.
• The government is creating a central data repository to get all the details of ration card which are being maintained by states so that the repository acts as a clearing house or a server to do the cross checking on the basis of Aadhaar authentication.
• This ensures that there is no corruption or duplication of the benefits that are being passed on to the beneficiaries. The government will ensure all these things with the help of technology.
• Since the scheme is based on technology, the government may face some technical challenges during the implementation of the scheme.
• The scheme will increase the woes of the common man and, the middlemen and corrupt PDS shop owners will exploit them.
• Tamil Nadu has opposed the proposal of the Centre, saying it would result in undesirable consequences and is against federalism.
• Within some states issue of intra state portability.
• Different states have different rates and these mismatching rates will be a big challenge.
• Few regional parties have expressed apprehensions on bearing the cost of additional ration cards. This is a matter which is to be settled between the states and the Government of India.
• One of the apprehensions mentioned by few states is the cost of additional food grain to be supplied to the migrant workers.
• However, the whole system is based on the entitlements mandated under the NFSA and this prevents the charges of additional cost. Beneficiaries will continue to pay the same issue prices that are fixed under the NFSA.
• The quality of services is markedly inferior for the subaltern groups with latent methods of discrimination such as lack of information, mixing of inferior grains, longer waiting time and, at times, even verbal abuse.

Way Forward

• The current migrant crisis should be seen as an opportunity to develop a national migration policy addressing the challenges faced by migrant workers’ productivity, living conditions and social security.
• While this must be done, the government must also fast-track the ONORC scheme because India’s present rights-based regime is based on the assumption that people are sedentary.
• The food security scheme under the NFSA costs more than Rs 1 lakh crore per year. It is very expensive but is highly needed. There is a need to ensure that subsidized food grains ultimately go to the person or the family that is entitled to.
• The ONORC should also include access to health and other things.
• At the principal level, within the government, there is broad consensus on having a unified kind of service delivery system based on technology and identity.
• A unified service platform combining all the citizen centric services on the basis of few parameters of identity and other indicators of technology, is the need of the hour.
• ONORC combined with a rating system based on the experiences akin to the Uber/Ola system, the government can improve PDS by closer monitoring and control. Those PDS dealers who perform better could be rewarded.

While ONORC has the potential to improve outcomes particularly for the subaltern groups, like any delivery mechanism, the entire value chain of making the system work needs to be closely monitored and backed by infrastructure. The availability of point of sale (PoS) systems at PDS shops, and its functioning needs to be ensured to check compromises in the entitlements. Even after the coronavirus pandemic is over, this will be useful. Migration is bound to restart because of unemployment. When migrant workers again start boarding trains and buses for the destination cities, they must have their PDS cards that are valid across India with them.

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Uptake, Implementation, Portability, and Operability of the One Nation One Ration Card: A Study

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This brief analyzes India’s One Nation One Ration cards that allow poor migrants to access subsidized grains nationwide and assesses how improving awareness and strengthening technological infrastructure could boost their take up.

• http://dx.doi.org/10.22617/BRF230495-2

The brief explains the evolution of the cards, which are used at ePos-enabled fair price stores. It offers insights into migrants’ perceptions and use of the cards and illustrates how they helped people access food during the pandemic. It highlights supply chain and technological challenges, emphasizes the need to improve access for women and vulnerable groups, and shows why training and capacity building could help improve food security.

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• 54182-001: COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Program
• Social development and poverty
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One Nation One Ration Card Scheme Explained- What Is It, Benefits, Implementation, Progress

Updated on : Jun 9th, 2024

The government launched the One Nation One Ration Card for providing an option to all eligible ration cardholders or beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 for accessing their entitlements from anywhere in India.

Under the NFSA, the ration cardholders or beneficiaries are entitled to buy subsidised food grains of rice at Rs.3 per kg, wheat at Rs.2 per kg and coarse grains at Rs.1 per kg from the designated Fair Price Shops (FPS) under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).

Benefits of One Nation One Ration Card

Before introducing the One Nation One Ration Card system, ration cardholders could buy the subsidised food grains only from the FPS that were assigned to them in the locality in which they resided.

If the NFSA beneficiary or ration cardholder migrated from the assigned FPS location to another location for work, then the ration cardholder/NFSA beneficiary was not eligible to receive subsidised food grains from an FPS in the migrated location. 

Upon introduction of the One Nation One Ration Card system, the condition of obtaining food grains from only the assigned FPS was removed, and the NFSA beneficiaries/ration cardholders can buy the subsidised food grains from any FPS across the country.

The One Nation One Ration Card system also allows the family members back home of the NFSA beneficiaries or ration cardholders to claim the balance foodgrains on the same ration card. The migrant workers staying away from their families can partially claim their ration from their location, while their family members in their native place can claim the rest of the ration. 

The One Nation One Ration Card allows all the NFSA beneficiaries/ration cardholders, particularly the migrant NFSA beneficiaries/ration cardholders, for claiming either whole or part of the foodgrains from any FPS situated anywhere in the country through an existing ration card with biometric or Aadhaar authentication in a seamless manner. 

Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card 

Under the One Nation One Ration Card system, the distribution of highly subsidised food grains is achieved through the nation-wide portability of ration cards. The nation-wide portability is enabled through the implementation of an IT-driven system by installing the seeding of Aadhaar number of beneficiaries with their ration cards, ePoS (Point of Sale) devices in FPSs and operationalisation of biometrically authenticated ePoS transactions in the State/UTs.

The NFSA beneficiaries/ration cardholders can quote their ration card number or the Aadhaar number at any FPSs dealer across the country to obtain the subsidised foodgrains from any FPS. There is no need to carry or share the ration card or Aadhaar card with the ration dealer for availing of the subsidised food grains. The NFSA beneficiaries/ration cardholders can undergo Aadhaar authentication by using their fingerprints or iris-based identification for obtaining the entitled foodgrains from any e-POS enabled FPSs of their choice.

Progress of One Nation One Ration Card

The One Nation One Ration Card scheme was initially proposed to roll out by 1 June 2020 nationally. On 1 August 2020, the facility of national portability of ration cards under the One Nation One Ration Card plan was enabled in an integrated cluster of 24 States/UTs covering approx. 65 crore beneficiaries (80% of the total NFSA population) in these States/UTs. 

Further, the Department of Food and Public Distribution made regular efforts to enable the facility of One Nation One Ration Card in the remaining 12 States/UTs before March 2021. 

The Finance Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the One Nation One Ration Card is being implemented by 32 States and UTs, reaching about 69 crore beneficiaries while announcing the Union Budget 2021. 

The Finance Minister also stated that the One Nation One Ration Card scheme had covered 86% of the beneficiaries. The remaining four States/UTs would be integrated into this scheme in the coming few months. As of 11 March 2021, 17 States and UTs had successfully onboarded the inter-state portability of ration cards under the NFSA.

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One Nation, One Ration Card Scheme – Pros & Cons

From Current Affairs Notes for UPSC » Editorials & In-depths » This topic

India is a welfare state. This means that it is the duty of the government to ensure the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. One Nation One Ration Card Scheme seeks to provide solutions to the limitations of the previous food security schemes that were domicile-based, that is, the beneficiaries can only avail for the assistance at a fixed Public Distribution System and cannot change this without undertaking prior complex procedures.

This topic of “One Nation, One Ration Card Scheme – Pros & Cons” is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination , which falls under General Studies Portion.

What is One Nation One Ration Card Scheme?

• This is a scheme that allows Inter-State Portability of the Ration Cards .
• A ration card is an official government document that allows certain households to purchase food grains at a subsidized rate from the Public Distribution System that comes under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA ).
• NFSA or the Right to Food Act is an act that provides legality to the existing food security schemes like the Midday Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services and PDS.
• The PDS came as the result of famine in 1940.
• It was revived in 1970 as a universal food security program for the whole nation.
• In 1997, when India opened its markets for globalization , the universal food security scheme was turned into a targeted program that identified the individuals who require food security from the government.
• Due to pressure from judiciary and civil society, in 2013, the National Food Security Act was implemented.
• This made the right to food a legal entitlement for two-third of the Indian population.
• As per the act, all the state governments must identify the eligible households that require subsidised food grains for survival and provide them with the ration card.
• The One Nation One Ration Card Scheme ensures that no individual is deprived of the benefits because of migration from one state to another.
• The beneficiary can avail for the same benefits in any of the public distribution system he/she wishes across the country.
• This scheme is going to be available for the whole nation 1 st July 2020.
• It was initially launched in pilot basis on August in the following states: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
• These states have fully digitized their PDS operations and are fully prepared for the upcoming changes that are brought about by this scheme.

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What are the benefits of this scheme?

• In India, 37% of the population is a migrant labour force.
• However, it normally takes two-three months to obtain a ration card in a new location.
• This gives losses to the migrants and reduces their efficiency.
• This scheme seeks to overcome these drawbacks by enabling the migrants to access these benefits at any part of the country.
• The authentication is made using Aadhaar verification .

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 How does it help the migrant labour force?

• To an economy, mobilization of the labour force is essential for the better employment opportunities and reduction of poverty.
• A majority of the poor either practice seasonal or temporary migration for their survival.
• Many estimate that about 10 crore people who work in informal sector practice seasonal rural-to-urban migration.
• The incidents of migration are caused mainly due to the recent agrarian crisis, unemployment, and poverty.
• The sectors that accommodate these migrants include construction companies, brick kilns, plantation, agriculture, manufacturing, and other informal sectors.
• However, these migrant workers still face a financial crisis as most of the anti-poverty , food security, rural employment, and other welfare schemes are mostly domicile-based access schemes.
• About 45.36 crore individuals are migrant labour force . These are mainly poor families in search of jobs.
• To reduce the unemployment rate and poverty in the cities and towns due to migration from rural areas in search of jobs, faster and efficient food security schemes are essential.
• The one nation one ration card seeks to do the same.
• This scheme also provides nutritional benefits.
• Their right to avail for government benefits will not be hindered due to migration because of this scheme.

How does this scheme help curb existing corruption?

• The Indian Government for the last five years has undertaken measures to weed out duplicate ration card .
• Due to this, the government was able to delete approximately 3 crore bogus and duplicate ration cards .
• One of the main aims of one nation one ration card scheme is to ensure authentic ration cards are used and no individual is a beneficiary in more than one location at the same time.
• This scheme is implemented by the linking of Aadhaar card and biometrics . This reduces the possibilities of corruption .
• However, the Aadhaaar card is not mandatory to access NFSA . There are other means to verify the identity of the individual.
• The government is also creating a central data repository to integrate all the data available within the states on everything related to the ration card and PDS.
• The digitized central repository ensures that no duplication or corruption is possible.

How will this scheme be implemented?

• This scheme allows for i ntra-state portability . As of now, ten states are ready for this scheme.
• They are Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Tripura.
• These states have 100% Point of Sale Machines and all Public Distribution Systems are connected to it.
• The availability of the PoS machines is essential to implement this scheme.
• Already, about 77% of the ration shops has been equipped with Pos machines .
• The beneficiary, because of this, can access the benefits from any of the PDS available within the state other than the one that was nominated for him.
• The government cannot directly implement this ambitious scheme that allows for the inter-state portability of the ration card without prior testing of the efficiency of this scheme.
• Therefore the intra-state portability is first undertaken to test the compatibility of the scheme.
• Thus the government is building clusters on a pilot basis.
• The government is also planning to incorporate all the Public Distribution Stems across the country with the Depot Online System .
• This gives the government complete details on the supply chain of the PDS and the distribution to the beneficiary.

What are the limitations of this scheme?

• Federal Structure : The Tamil Nadu Government argued that this scheme is against federalism. Each state has different rates. There may be divergences and objectionable consequences.
• Difficulty : The exact data on who are migrating where is essential for the efficient implementation of the scheme.
• Domicile-based legislations : The existing domicile based schemes must also be mobilized to ensure the efficiency of the scheme.
• Exclusion : Sometimes the migrant worker will travel in search of work without the family members. Those who stay behind may face a crisis because of the availability of only a single ration card.
• Technical glitches : Digitization always has limitations. There are bound to be technical problems while implementing the scheme.

Way Forward:

• The Food Security Scheme under the NFSA is highly expensive. If the food grains are not distributed in a targeted manner , then it will increase the financial burden of the government.
• The One Nation One Ration Card seeks to unify the whole nation so that there are minimum corruption and higher coverage.
• Splitting up of ration cards between those who are left behind and the one who migrates in search of work is essential to allow efficient coverage of the food security to the poor families. Rashtriya Swathya Bima Yojana (RSBY) does just that. It is a scheme that splits the unique insurance card to help the migrant as well as the family members who were left behind.
• Other welfare schemes that cover health, nutrition, etc., must also be mobilized to ensure no one is left behind from availing the assistance of the government in order to improve the ease of living of the population.

Article by: K.G.Karishma

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• It will benefit approximately 81 crores beneficiaries by digitizing Ration Cards.
• This system allows all NFSA beneficiaries, particularly migrant beneficiaries, to claim either full or part food grains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) in the country through an existing ration card with biometric/Aadhaar authentication in a seamless manner.
• With the ONORC, all the beneficiaries in one state can get the same fair rations in other states where the ration card was issued.
• The scheme will ensure food security of migrant laborers who move to other states to seek better job opportunities.
• It will improve the mechanism to identify fake/duplicate ration cards. It seeks to provide universal access to PDS food grains for migrant workers.
• Ration card portability will be achieved by implementing an IT-driven system that installs ePoS devices in each Fair Price Shop (FPS).
• The ONORC will also help achieve the target set under SDG 2 : Ending hunger by 2030.
• The scheme is eligible to all ration cardholders or beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 with Aadhaar Card numbers seeded.
• The interested person must provide their ration card details at the closest Fair Price Shop.
• Recipients can visit any Fair Price Shop in the nation with their Aadhaar number or their ration card number.
• Any family member who has seeded their Aadhaar number on their ration card is eligible for authentication and to have their ration lifted.
• Beneficiary have the option to use their iris or fingerprints for Aadhaar authentication.
• Ration Card
• Aadhar Card

I live in Mumbai but my family lives in Rajasthan, Can my family receive the ration at Rajasthan?

Yes, scheme allows your family to claim ration on same Ration Card.

My allotted Fair Price Shop (FPS), does not give me the ration. Can I claim ration from any other FPS?

Yes, the schemes allows you to claim ration from other FPS if your Aadhar is seeded to Ration Card.

Who are eligible for the scheme?

This scheme can be availed by to all eligible ration cardholders or beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.

How do I know if I am NFSA Beneficiary?

You can check on https://nfsa.gov.in/portal/ration_card_state_portals_aad

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One Nation One Ration Card, Objectives, Key Features

"One Nation One Ration Card" enables portable access to subsidized food grains nationwide, enhancing food security. Check details on One Nation One Ration Card here.

Table of Contents

One Nation One Ration Card

Imagine a world where everyone in our country, no matter where they live or who they are, can easily get the food they need. This idea is called “One Nation, One Ration,” and it’s all about making sure that nobody goes hungry. This article will talk about why this is so important and how it could help make our country more fair and caring for everyone.

Read about: Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

One Nation One Ration Card Scheme 

The “One Nation One Ration Card” (ONORC) scheme, introduced by the Government of India, has the ambitious goal of making ration cards portable nationwide. This groundbreaking initiative enables individuals with ration cards to avail subsidized food grains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) located in any state across the country. The primary objective of this scheme is to instigate positive changes in the Public Distribution System (PDS) while ensuring food security for a vast number of beneficiaries, estimated at around 81 crore, including migrants. Launched in 2019, the ONORC scheme seeks to transform India’s existing public distribution system, which currently serves approximately 237 million economically disadvantaged households.

Following graph highlights the increase in coverage of this scheme with time. 

Read about: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Objectives of One Nation One Ration Card Scheme

• Reforms in the public distribution system: This scheme aims to improve the way food is distributed to people, making it more efficient and fair.
• Access to food grains for all beneficiaries: It ensures that every person who needs subsidized food can get it, no matter where they are in the country.
• Integration of all Indian states and UTs: By March 2021, the goal was to include every state and Union Territory in this scheme so that it covers the entire country.

Read about: Janani Suraksha yojana

Salient Features of One Nation One Ration Card Scheme 

The implementation of the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme involves several key steps and components to make it possible. Here’s how the scheme will be implemented:

• Technology Integration: The first step is to integrate the technological infrastructure required for the scheme. This involves setting up electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices at Fair Price Shops (FPSs) across the country. These devices are equipped with biometric authentication systems (fingerprint or iris scans) to verify the identity of beneficiaries.
• Aadhaar Seeding: Beneficiaries’ Aadhaar numbers are linked to their ration cards. This linking is crucial for biometric authentication and to prevent duplication of beneficiaries.
• Database and Connectivity: The central government, along with state governments and relevant agencies, establishes a central database that contains beneficiary information, ration card details, and other relevant data. This database enables the exchange of information across states and union territories.
• Inter-State and Intra-State Portability: The core concept of ONORC is to allow beneficiaries to access their ration entitlements from any FPS, whether they are in their home state or a different state. This involves creating a seamless system for portability, both within a state (intra-state) and between states (inter-state).

• Beneficiary Awareness: Public awareness campaigns are conducted to educate beneficiaries about the scheme’s benefits, how to use it, and the steps they need to take to access their entitlements from any FPS.
• Mobile Application (Mera Ration): The government introduces a mobile app called “Mera Ration” to assist beneficiaries. This app provides information about entitlements, FPS locations, and other relevant details. It simplifies the process for beneficiaries to access their ration from any location.

Read about: Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana

Benefits of the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) Scheme

• Easy access to subsidized food grains for migrants: People who have ONORC can get cheaper food from any Fair Price Shop, even if they are in a different part of the country. This helps those who move to other places for work.
• Consistent rations across states: When someone uses ONORC in a different state, they will get the same amount of food that they would get in their home state. So, the quality and quantity of food remain the same.
• Quick switch in case of issues: If there’s any problem with one Fair Price Shop, beneficiaries can easily go to another shop and still get their food. This prevents them from being stuck without food.
• Benefits for women and vulnerable groups: People from poorer sections of society, including women, can benefit more because they can easily access their entitled food without any discrimination.
• Contribution to ending hunger: The ONORC can play a role in reaching the goal of ending hunger by 2030. This is important as hunger is a big challenge, and the ONORC can help reduce it.

Read about: Midday Meal Scheme

Challenges Regarding the Implementation of the One Nation One Ration Card

• Exclusion errors: Even after using smart cards and linking with Aadhaar, there have been mistakes that sometimes leave eligible people from getting their entitled food.
• Lack of data: It’s challenging to have accurate data about people moving to different cities for work. This makes it difficult to identify who should get benefits when they move.

Read about: Atal Pension Yojana

One Nation One Ration UPSC 

The “One Nation One Ration Card” (ONORC) scheme holds significant importance for the UPSC exam due to its relevance to multiple components of the UPSC Syllabus , including Indian Economy, Governance, Social Welfare Schemes, and Current Affairs. Understanding ONORC is crucial for aspirants as it reflects the government’s efforts in implementing technology-driven reforms in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and addressing food security challenges. Aspirants can get a firm hold over such concepts by joining UPSC Online Coaching platforms and testing their understanding by attempting UPSC Mock Test .

Read about: Direct Benefit Transfer

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One Nation One Ration Card FAQs

In which state one nation one ration card scheme was launched.

The "One Nation One Ration Card" scheme was launched in the state of Telangana.

Who are eligible for the One Nation One ration card scheme?

Beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) are eligible for the One Nation One Ration Card scheme.

Which PM award is for one nation one ration card?

The "Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration" is associated with the One Nation One Ration Card scheme.

Has one nation one ration card scheme become operational in the entire India?

Yes, the One Nation One Ration Card scheme has become operational in the entire India.

What are the benefits of one nation one card?

Benefits of the scheme include nationwide portability of ration, improved access to food grains, and reduced leakage in the Public Distribution System (PDS).

What are the disadvantages of one nation one ration card?

Disadvantages may include technical challenges, exclusion errors, and potential difficulties in data integration and migration for migrants.

I, Sakshi Gupta, am a content writer to empower students aiming for UPSC, PSC, and other competitive exams. My objective is to provide clear, concise, and informative content that caters to your exam preparation needs. I strive to make my content not only informative but also engaging, keeping you motivated throughout your journey!

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One Nation One Ration Card Scheme

• 02 Jul 2019
• GS Paper - 2
• Government Policies & Interventions
• Food Security
• Welfare Schemes
• Public Distribution System (PDS)
• Recently the Food Minister announced One Nation One Ration Card Scheme, which all states needs to implement by July 2020.
• One Nation One Ration Card’ scheme seeks to provide portability of food security benefits all across the nation.
• The poor migrant workers will be able to buy subsidised rice and wheat from any ration shop in the country but for that their ration cards must be linked to Aadhaar .
• Migrants would only be eligible for the subsidies supported by the Centre, which include rice sold at Rs. 3/kg and wheat at Rs. 2/kg, It would not include subsidies given by their respective state government in some other state.
• This scheme will ensure that no poor person is deprived of subsidised grains.
• The scheme can be implemented as already 77% of the ration shops across the country have PoS machines and more than 85% of people covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) have their cards linked to Aadhaar.
• For remaining beneficiaries, all the States have been given one more year to use point of sale (PoS) machines in the ration shops and implement the scheme.

National Food Security Act

• The basic concept of food security globally is to ensure that all people, at all times, should get access to the basic food for their active and healthy life and is characterized by availability, access, utilization and stability of food.
• Food security can also be derived from the fundamental right to life enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution, as it may be interpreted to include right to live with human dignity, which may include the right to food and other basic necessities.
• In pursuance of this, the enactment of the National Food Security Act, (NFSA) 2013 marks a paradigm shift in the approach to food security from welfare to the rights-based approach.
• The Act legally entitles up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized foodgrains under the Targeted Public Distribution System.

Nursing aide turned sniper: Thomas Crooks' mysterious plot to kill Trump

BUTLER, Pa. – Donald Trump and would-be assassin Thomas Crooks started on their violent collision course long before the former president's political rally ended in gunshots and death.

Crooks, 20, was a one-time registered Republican, a nursing home worker with no criminal record, shy in school, and living in a decent middle-class neighborhood in suburban Pennsylvania with his parents. Trump, 78, was eyeing Crooks' state as a key battleground – but not in the way that anyone envisioned on Saturday.

Riding high on polls showing that he's got a strong chance of toppling President Joe Biden, the former president had been campaigning for reelection in swing states, and Pennsylvania is a key prize. Trump won the state in 2016 but lost it four years later.

And on July 3, Trump's campaign announced he would hold a rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh.

"Pennsylvania has been ravaged by monumental surges in violent crime as a direct result of Biden’s and Democrats’ pro-criminal policies," Trump's campaign said in announcing the event, noting that when he's elected, he'll "re-establish law and order in Pennsylvania!"

The Saturday attack on Trump turned the heated rhetoric of the 2024 presidential campaign freshly violent. Authorities said bullets fired from Crooks' AR-15 style rifle about 150 yards away grazed Trump's ear, killed a rally attendee as he dove to protect his family, and critically wounded two others. Secret Service agents killed Crooks moments later.

Attack planned well in advance

Investigators are still seeking Crooks' motive – despite his Republican leanings, he had donated recently to a progressive voter-turnout campaign in 2021 – but indicated he'd planned the attack well in advance.

The shooting marks the first assassination attempt against a former or current U.S. president since President Ronald Reagan was injured in a March 1981 shooting at a Washington, D.C., hotel. 

There are many questions about why Crooks turned into a would-be presidential assassin, firing indiscriminately into hordes of political supporters.

FBI special agent Kevin Rojek said on a call with media that law enforcement located "a suspicious device" when they searched Crooks' vehicle and that it's being analyzed at the FBI crime lab.

"As far as the actions of the shooter immediately prior to the event and any interaction that he may have had with law enforcement, we're still trying to flesh out those details now," Rojek said.

None of Crooks' shocked neighbors or high school classmates described him as violent or that he in any way signaled he was intent on harming Trump. Sunday morning, reporters and curious locals swarmed the leafy streets of the home where Crooks lived with his parents in Bethel Park, about 50 miles from the shooting scene.

Those who knew him described a quiet young man who often walked to work at a nearby nursing home. One classmate said he was bullied and often ate alone in high school.

Sunday morning, neighbor Cathy Caplan, 45, extended her morning walk about a quarter mile to glimpse what was happening outside Crooks’ home.“It came on the morning news and I was like ‘I know that street,’” said Caplan, who works for the local school district. "It feels like something out of a movie.”

Dietary aide turned deadly killer

Authorities say they are examining Crooks' phone, social media and online activity for motivation. They said he carried no identification and his body had to be identified via DNA and biometric confirmation.

Although no possible motive has yet been released, Crooks nevertheless embodies the achingly familiar profile of an American mass shooter: a young white man, isolated from peers and armed with a high-powered rifle. His attack was one of at least 59 shootings in the United States on Saturday, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

According to records and online posts of the ceremony, Crooks graduated from Bethel Park High School, about 42 miles from Butler County, on June 3, 2022. That same day, Trump met briefly with investigators at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida as they examined whether he improperly took classified documents with him when he left the White House.

A classmate remembered Crooks as a frequent target of bullies. Kids picked on him for wearing camouflage to class and his quiet demeanor, Jason Kohler, 21, said. Crooks usually ate lunch alone, Kohler said.

Crooks worked as a dietary aide at the Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, less than a mile from his home. In a statement provided to USA TODAY on Sunday, Marcie Grimm, the facility's administrator, said she was "shocked and saddened to learn of his involvement."

Neighbor Dean Sierka, 52, has known Crooks and his parents for years. The families live a few doors apart on a winding suburban street, and Sierka’s daughter, who attended elementary, middle and high school with Crooks, remembers him as quiet and shy. Sierka said they saw Crooks at least once a week, often when he was walking to the nursing home from his parents' three-bedroom brick house.

"You wouldn’t have expected this," Sierka said. "The parents and the family are all really nice people."

"It's crazy," he added.

Secret Service role: Did they do enough?

Founded in 1865, the Secret Service is supposed to stop this kind of attack, and dozens of agents were present Saturday. As the former president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Trump's public appearances are managed by the Secret Service, which works with local law enforcement to develop security plans and crowd-management protocols.

In the days before the event, the agency's experts would have scouted the location, identified security vulnerabilities, and designed a perimeter to keep Trump and rally attendees safe. Congress and the Secret Service are now investigating how Crooks was able to get so close to the former president, and several witnesses reported seeing him in the area with the gun before Trump took the stage.

As the event doors opened at 1 p.m., the temperature was already pushing close to 90, and ticketed attendees oozed through metal detectors run by members of the Secret Service's uniformed division. Similar to airport security screenings, rallygoers emptied their pockets to prove they weren't carrying guns or other weapons.

Media reports indicate the Secret Service had in place, as usual, a counter-sniper team scanning the surrounding area for threats.

In an exclusive interview, former Secret Service Director Julia Pierson told USA TODAY that maintaining such a sniper security perimeter is part of the agency's responsibility for safeguarding protectees like Trump from harm. She said agents typically consider 1,000 yards to be the minimum safe distance for sniper attacks.

The Secret Service has confirmed that it is investigating how Crooks got so close to Trump, who took the stage shortly after 6 p.m. Officials say Crooks' rifle was legally obtained but have not yet released specifics.

Outside the venue at that time, Greg Smith says he tried desperately to get the attention of police. He told the BBC that he and his friends saw a man crawling along a roof overlooking the rally. Other witnesses said they also saw a man atop the American Glass Research building outside the official event security perimeter, well within the range of a 5.56 rifle bullet.

"We noticed the guy bear-crawling up the roof of the building beside us, 50 feet away from us," Smith told the BBC. "He had a rifle, we could clearly see him with a rifle."

Smith told the BBC that the Secret Service eventually saw him and his friends pointing at the man on the roof.

"I'm thinking to myself, why is Trump still speaking, why have they not pulled him off the stage?" Smith said. "Next thing you know, five shots rang out."

From his nearby deck, Trump supporter Pat English watched as the former president took the stage to Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A.," and attendees raised their cell phones to record.

English had taken his grandson to see the rally earlier but left when it got too hot. From his deck, they listened as Trump began speaking at 6:05 p.m., backed by a crown of red-hatted MAGA supporters waving "fire Joe Biden" signs.

And then gunfire began.

Boom, boom, boom

"I heard a 'boom, boom, boom' and then screams,” English said Sunday. "I could see people running and the police run in."

Trump was saying the word "happened" as the first pop rang out. He reached up to grab his ear as two more shots echoed, and the crowd behind him – and Trump himself – ducked. Plainclothes Secret Service agents piled atop the president as a fusillade of shots rang out, apparently the Secret Service killing Crooks.

The crowd screamed, and the venue's sound system picked up the agents atop Trump planning to move the former president to safety. One yelled, "shooter's down. Let's move, let's move."

The agents then helped Trump back to his feet as they shielded him on all sides.

The sound system then picked up Trump's voice: "Wait, wait," he said, before turning to the audience and triumphantly raising his fist to yell "fight, fight" as the crowd cheered, blood streaming down his face.

By 6:14 p.m. Trump's motorcade was racing from the scene, and in a later statement, Trump's campaign said he was checked out at a local medical facility.

"I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear," Trump said in a statement. "I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening."

Firefighter 'hero' gunned down

Outside of the Butler Township Administration Office Sunday afternoon, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro identified the rally attendee killed by Crooks as Corey Comperatore, a firefighter, father of two and longtime Trump supporter.

“Corey died a hero,” Shapiro said. “Corey dove on his family to protect them last night at this rally. Corey was the very best of us. May his memory be a blessing.”

Two other Pennsylvanians are still undergoing treatment for their injuries, Shapiro said.

Pennsylvania State Police identified two wounded attendees David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township. Both are hospitalized and listed in stable condition. Shapiro said he spoke with the family of one victim and received a message from the other.

Biden spoke briefly with Trump on Saturday night, and the president condemned the assassination attempt as “sick.” He said there’s no place for political violence in the U.S. and called on Americans to unite together to condemn it.

But earlier in the week, Biden told campaign donors in a private phone call it was time to stop talking about his own disastrous presidential debate performance and start targeting Trump instead.

"I have one job and that's to beat Donald Trump," Biden said. "We're done talking about the (June 27) debate. It's time to put Trump in the bullseye."

Republicans across the country have used similar language to attack their opponents over the years, and political scientists say violent rhetoric used worldwide almost invariably leads to physical violence.

On Sunday, someone parked a truck-mounted electronic billboard at the gates to the Butler Farm Show grounds reading "Democrats attempted assassination," along with a picture of Trump clutching an American flag, his face overlaid with a bullseye crosshairs.

Authorities say they have not yet determined a motive for Crooks' attack. But in a statement, Trump declared the shooting an act of evil and thanked God for preventing the unthinkable.

"We will fear not, but instead remain resilient in our faith and defiant in the face of wickedness," Trump said.

And he said he'd be back on the campaign trail for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, which starts Monday.

"Based on yesterday’s terrible events, I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin, and the Republican National Convention, by two days," Trump said on his Truth Social account Sunday, "but have just decided that I cannot allow a 'shooter,' or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else."

Contributing: David Jackson, Aysha Bagchi, Christopher Cann, Bryce Buyakie, Emily Le Coz, Josh Meyer, USA TODAY Network

How the assassination attempt unfolded : Graphics, maps, audio analysis show what happened