ANTYODYA ANNA YOJANA Syllabus GS Paper 2 – Govt Schemes)

Context: The Cabinet recently approved a two-year extension until March 2026 for Antyodya Anna Yojna (AAY) families distributed through the Public Distribution Scheme (PDS).

Antyodya Anna Yojna (AAY)

• Launch: December 25, 2000.
• Aim: Offering essential food grains through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) at highly subsidized rates: ₹3 per kg for rice, ₹2 per kg for wheat, and ₹1 per kg for coarse grains.
• Ministry: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.
• Department: Department of Food and Public Distribution.
• Increase in Monthly Allotment: Initially, BPL families were entitled to 25 kg of grains per month; however, starting from 2002, the allocation per family was raised to 35 kg per month, benefiting those holding Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards.
• Objectives: Providing nutritious food to the most economically disadvantaged individuals and extending highly subsidized food grains to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
• Salient Features

oNoteworthy features of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana encompass coverage for the poorest of the poor, subsidized rates of ₹1 per kg for coarse grains, ₹2 per kg for wheat, and ₹3 per kg for rice. Furthermore, it operates as an integral component of the National Food Security Act.

oEach family is entitled to receive 35 kg of food grains monthly, with the additional feature of states/union territories bearing both distribution and transportation costs associated with the program.