Permanent Account Number (PAN) refers to a ten-digit alphanumeric number, issued in the form of a laminated card, by the Income Tax Department in India. It is a must to have a PAN number for all those who file their income tax returns, because from 2005 onwards, it has been made mandatory by the Income Tax Department to quote the PAN on return of income as well as on all correspondence with any income tax authority in the country.
Also, it is now compulsory to quote PAN in all documents pertaining to financial transactions notified from time to time by the Central Board of Direct Taxes, such as sale and purchase of immovable property or motor vehicle or payments in cash, of amounts exceeding a certain limit to hotels and restaurants, or in connection with travel to any foreign country. It is also mandatory to mention PAN for obtaining a telephone or cellular telephone connection. Likewise, PAN has to be mentioned for making a time deposit exceeding Rs. 50,000/- with a Bank or Post Office or for depositing cash of Rs. 50,000/- or more in a Bank.
How to apply for a PAN ?
The Income Tax Department has ensured that applying for a PAN is a simple and convenient procedure. All you need to do is submit the requisite Application Form No. 49A. The PAN application can also be downloaded from the website of UTI Investor Services Ltd (the authorised agency to manage IT PAN service Centres in various cities) or from the website of National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) or printed by local printers or photocopied (on A4 size 70 GSM paper) or obtained from any other source. The form is also available at IT PAN Service Centres and TIN Facilitation Centres.
You will need a recent colour photograph (stamp size: 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm) to attach on the form. You must mention the designation and code of the concerned Assessing Officer of the Income Tax department in Form 49A. You can get this from the IT PAN Service Centres mentioned in the websites listed above. Also, the application shall have to be accompanied by a proof of identity as well as a proof of residence.
The filled application form has to be submitted at your nearest IT PAN Service Centre or TIN Facilitation Centre along with the requisite fee.

What is a Ration Card and Why is it Needed?
A Ration Card is a document issued under an order or authority of the State Government, as per the Public Distribution System, for the purchase of essential commodities from fair price shops. State Governments issue distinctive Ration Cards to Above Poverty Line, Below Poverty Line and Antyodaya families and conduct periodical review and checking of Ration Cards.
A Ration Card is a very useful document for Indian citizens. It helps save money by aiding in the procurement of essential commodities at a subsidised rate. It has also become an important tool of identification now-a-days. You may need to produce a copy of your Ration Card as proof of identification when applying for other documents like Domicile Certificate, for inclusion of your name in the Electoral Rolls, etc.
Families living below the poverty line are entitled to Blue Cards, under which they can avail special subsidies. In addition to permanent Ration Cards, States also issue temporary Ration Cards, which are valid for a specified number of months, and are issued for relief purposes.
What You Need to Do to Obtain a Ration Card
You may obtain the application form for making a new Consumer (Ration) Card from any Circle Office. You will require passport-sized photographs of the head of your family attested by a gazetted officer/MLA/MP/Municipal Councillor, the specified proof(s) of residence, and the Surrender/Deletion Certificate of the previous Ration Card, if there was any.
In case you are not able to provide any proof of residence, the Circle FSO conducts spot inquiries by recording the statements of two independent witnesses in your neighbourhood. The standard prescribed time schedule for the preparation of a Ration Card is generally 15 days. However, the procedure and time limit may vary from State to State.
There is also a provision for making amendments to valid Ration Cards.

The Consular Passport and Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for the issuance of the Indian Passport to Indian Citizens. Passports are issued to Indian citizens from 30 locations across the country and 163 Indian missions abroad.
All information pertaining to the issuance of Passports can be availed from the Central website passport.gov.in. All the Passport offices located in India have an online Status Enquiry Service, whereby one can check the status of a passport application by entering the File Reference Number available in the receipt. Applicants can also avail the facility to submit their grievances online, in case there are any.
How to Apply For a Passport 
To apply for a fresh Passport, re–issue of Passports/ issue of Passports in lieu of lost & damaged Passports and for miscellaneous services, obtain the relevant Passport Application Form from any of the Passport Offices or the designated Speed Post centers or any of the designated outlets in your city.

The carefully filled up Application Form has to be submitted, along with proof of residence, proof of date of birth, personal particulars form (if applicable), ‘No Objection Certificate’ (in case of Government of Public Sector Employees), necessary affidavits and other supporting documents at any of following locations, under the jurisdiction of which the applicant is presently residing:

1. Across the counter of the Passport office
2. At the Speed Post centers
3. District Passport Cells