BENEFICIARIES UNDER NFSA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Food Security)

Context:  There is a scope for identification of 1.24 crore more beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013 by the state governments, in addition to the existing 80.11 crore beneficiaries of the food security law, show the latest data available with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

Key Points

• If these beneficiaries are identified, they will become eligible to avail of the Centre’s free foodgrains scheme - Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) - which is being implemented from January 1 to December 31 during 2024.
• PMGKAY provides 5 kg of rice or wheat (according to regional dietary preferences) per person and 1 kg of dal to each family holding a ration card. 
• The NFSA entitles beneficiaries covered under it to buy food grains at a subsidised rate - rice Rs 3/kg, wheat Rs 2/kg and nutria-cereals Rs 1/kg. However, the NDA government, last year, decided to provide food grains free of cost to eligible households for a year.