A ration stamp or ration card is a stamp or card issued by a government to allow the holder to obtain food or other commodities that are in short supply during wartime or in other emergency situations. Food stamps used, for instance, in the United States to provide subsidised food to those on low incomes are not ration stamps as the stamps provide a subsidy only and the items purchased are not in short supply.
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Ration stamps were widely used by both sides during World War II after hostilities caused interruption to the normal supply of goods. They were also used after the end of the War while the economies of the belligerents gradually returned to normal.
Ration cards have been an important part of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in India. On the basis of their economic condition, people can buy goods like food grains, sugar and kerosene with the help of their ration cards.
They are three types of ration card:
Rationing in the United Kingdom was widespread during World War II and continued long after the end of the war. It has been credited with greatly increasing public health.