Design and Development of Automated Smart Ration Booking System

Abstract

The Public Distribution System in India helps people get basic goods cheaper. But handing out rations by hand usually leads to big crowds, messy records, lack of clarity, trouble spotting who needs help most. Fixing those problems, this plan introduces a Smart Ration Booking System - a website tool making buying rations smoother while boosting openness and speed.In this setup, users sign in with a smart card ID and password. Picking a desired day helps them buy stuff later on. They browse items based on what matters most, staying under the allowed cap while creating e-receipts automatically. Paying happens through the web, yet picking up orders occurs in person when that reserved day comes around armed with the receipt. Shoppers also check store info like open hours plus available stock per location - making decisions easier without hassle.This method cuts down wait periods, keeps supplies better organized, while boosting openness among buyers and officials. Turning the ration sign-up and payments digital helps lower mistakes by people, supports smarter use of resources, also makes the PDS more focused on users without corruption. Later upgrades could involve linking with phone apps, live inventory alerts, or smart forecasts using AI to assign rations more effectively.

Introduction

India’s Public Distribution System (PDS) supplies essential food items to low-income households but suffers from major issues such as corruption, manual errors, delays, and diversion of ration supplies. To address these challenges, the proposed Smart Ration Distribution/Booking System (SRDS) introduces automation, digital records, and secure authentication to improve accuracy, transparency, and user convenience.

The system replaces traditional ration cards with RFID smart cards, each containing a unique ID linked to a central database. When scanned, the system automatically verifies user details, checks eligibility, and dispenses the correct ration. GSM technology sends real-time SMS alerts to both users and authorities, ensuring transparency and preventing misuse.

Related Research

Past studies have used RFID, GSM, biometrics, microcontrollers, and mobile applications to reduce corruption and automate ration shops. Some advanced models also incorporate IoT, Blockchain, and AI, although these are often complex or limited in scale. Most existing systems focus on either automation or information access—not both. The proposed system fills this gap by integrating booking, payment, authentication, and automated record-keeping into one platform.

Proposed System

The Smart Ration Booking System offers a secure, web-based interface where beneficiaries:

• Log in using smart card ID and password

• View ration quota, shop details, and stock

• Select items, choose pickup slots, and pay online

• Receive a digital receipt for collection

Administrators have real-time access to inventory, bookings, and distribution patterns, helping prevent diversion and stock manipulation.

Technologies Used

The system is built using the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, Node.js) for fast, scalable, and secure operations. React manages the interface, Node/Express handles backend logic, and MongoDB stores user, stock, and transaction data efficiently.

Advantages

Key benefits include:

• Up to 70–80% reduction in waiting time

• Higher transparency and accountability through digital logs

• Accurate and real-time stock management

• Secure smart-card-based authentication

• Reduced human errors and paper usage

• Faster transactions and better user convenience

• Scalable design for future improvements

Results

Testing showed reliable authentication, smooth booking, fast page loading (≈1.8 seconds), and major reductions in user waiting time. Auto-billing and centralized records improved transparency. Over 90% of users found the system easy to use. Challenges include connectivity issues and low digital literacy in rural areas, but future upgrades such as offline support and mobile apps can expand usability.

Conclusion

The proposed Smart India Ration System effectively minimizes the malpractices that prevail in the conventional Public Distribution System (PDS), such as corruption, human error in weighing, and diversion of materials. Drawing from RFID and GSM-based automation principles, the system replaces traditional ration cards with smart cards or RFID tags, ensuring that only authenticated and verified beneficiaries receive the allotted commodities. By automating the verification, transaction, and stock update processes, the system not only reduces manual intervention but also enhances transparency in ration distribution. Real-time communication through SMS or web interfaces keeps both beneficiaries and government authorities informed of each transaction, preventing fraud and ensuring accountability. This system demonstrates that integrating IoT, RFID, biometric verification, and centralized databases can establish an efficient, corruption-free, and fully traceable food distribution mechanism. Hence, the Smart India Ration model represents a major step toward digital governance, improving the reliability, fairness, and security of the PDS in India. The future Smart India Ration System aims to become fully automated and secure through technologies like biometrics, IoT, AI, and blockchain. These enhancements will improve transparency, accessibility, and efficiency, moving toward a zero-leakage PDS.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Rajeswaran D, Pavithra K, Nethara G, Priyadharshini K, Pradeepan R, Raghuram SRM, Keerthana Shri K S. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.