**Executive Summary:**
This document is a response to questions regarding the exclusion of beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). It clarifies that beneficiary identification and ration card issuance are the responsibility of State Governments/UT Administrations, following criteria they develop within the National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013. The document highlights continuous efforts to update beneficiary databases, delete ineligible beneficiaries, and add eligible ones, alongside established grievance redressal mechanisms.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Beneficiary Identification:**
* Governed by the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
* The responsibility for beneficiary identification and ration card issuance lies with State Governments/UT Administrations.
* Identification occurs under two categories: Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and priority households.
* Criteria for priority households vary by State/UT depending on socio-economic conditions.
* **Database Management & Updates:**
* States/UTs are advised to identify and include all eligible and poor households.
* States are continuously updating beneficiary databases to remove bogus ration cards and improve targeting.
* Deletion of ineligible beneficiaries and addition of eligible ones is an ongoing process.
* **Grievance Redressal:**
* Explicit provisions exist under the NFSA for grievance redressal.
* State Governments must establish internal grievance redressal mechanisms (e.g., call centers, helplines, nodal officers).
* District Grievance Redressal Officers (DGROs) are designated for expeditious grievance resolution.
* State Food Commissions are established to monitor and review the implementation of the Act, including inquiry into violations and hearing appeals.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **State Governments/UT Administrations:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for identifying eligible beneficiaries, issuing ration cards, updating databases, and establishing grievance redressal mechanisms.
* *Action Required:* Continue updating beneficiary databases, deleting ineligible beneficiaries, adding eligible ones, and maintaining effective grievance redressal systems.
* **Beneficiaries (Including Potentially Excluded):**
* *Impact:* Subject to inclusion/exclusion based on State/UT-defined criteria and database updates; have access to grievance redressal mechanisms.
* *Action Required:* Utilize available grievance redressal mechanisms if wrongly classified as ineligible or facing issues with foodgrain distribution.
* **Central Government:**
* *Impact:* Provides advisories and support to State Governments/UT Administrations for implementing the NFSA and PMGKAY.
* *Action Required:* Continue issuing advisories and monitoring the implementation of the NFSA and PMGKAY across States/UTs.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): A food security scheme to provide free food grains to the poor and needy.
National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: An Act of the Parliament of India which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of the country's population.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for food processing and distribution.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): A scheme to provide highly subsidised food to the poorest families.
State Government: Refers to the government of individual states within India, responsible for identifying beneficiaries and issuing ration cards under the NFSA.
Union Territories (UT): Refers to the union territories within India responsible for identifying beneficiaries and issuing ration cards under the NFSA.
District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO): An officer appointed/designated for expeditious and effective redressal of grievances related to foodgrain distribution under the NFSA.
State Food Commission: A commission constituted/designated by the State Government for monitoring and review of implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4600
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20TH AUGUST, 2025
EXCLUSION OF BENEFICIARIES UNDER PMGKAY
4600. SHRI SUDAMA PRASAD:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC
DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:
(a) the details of criteria being used to determine ineligibility of beneficiaries under the
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) as per the data shared by the
Income Tax Department;
(b) the details of beneficiaries of the yojana along with estimated number of
beneficiaries likely to be removed from the scheme State/District-wise;
(c) whether any measures have been taken by the Government to prevent wrongful
exclusion of eligible beneficiaries and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether any grievance redressal mechanism has been made available for those
wrongly classified as ineligible under the income verification and if so, the details thereof
along with the alternative measures in place to address the same;
(e) whether the Government has constituted any committee to assess the impact on
vulnerable households under the exclusion process; and
(f) if so, the details and findings thereof including the action taken by the Government
thereon?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a) to (f): The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Alma Yojana (PMGKAY) is governed as per
provisions of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 .
Under the joint responsibility of the Central and State Government, the responsibility for
identification of beneficiaries and issuance of their ration cards rests with the concerned State
Government-2-
Identification of beneficiaries under the act is under two categories- households covered
under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) to the extent specified by the Central Government and the
remaining households as priority households to be identified by the State Governments/ Union
Territories (UT) Administrations as per criteria evolved by them, within the coverage determined
for the State/UT. Thus, the criteria for identification of beneficiaries under Priority Households
Category may vary from State to State depending upon Socio-Economic, demographic conditions
of the State.
The Central Government issues advisories to all the States/Union Territories from time to
time to identify all eligible and poor persons/ households including vulnerable Sections of the
Society for inclusion under the NFS A. States are undertaking updation of their beneficiary database
so that bogus ration cards get deleted and better targeting of rightful beneficiaries is ensured. Thus,
deletion of ineligible beneficiaries and addition of eligible beneficiaries under the Act is
a
contInuous process.
Explicit provisions are made under the National Food Security Act for redressal of
grievances of beneficiaries. The Act provides that every State Government shall put in place an
internal grievance redressal mechanism which may include call centres, help lines, designation of
nodal officers, or such other mechanism as may be prescribed. The Act further provides for a
appointment/designation of District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO) for expeditious and
effective redressal of grievances of the aggrieved persons in matters relating to distribution of
entitled foodgrains and to enforce the entitlements under the Act. The Act also provides for
constitution/designation of a State Food Commission for the purpose of monitoring and review of
implementation of the Act. The Commission either SIlo-moto or on the receipt of complaints
inquires into violations of entitlements under Chapter-II of the Act and hear appeal against the
order of the D(3RO
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