This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1688, addressed on July 30, 2025, regarding food security schemes under the Public Distribution System (PDS). The response, provided by the Minister of State for the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Smt. Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, addresses concerns about families without government service being deprived of food security, the criteria for deprivation, and the provision of essential items beyond foodgrains.
The Public Distribution System is governed by the National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013, which aims to provide food to up to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population. This equates to 81.35 crore persons based on the Census 2011. Currently, 80.56 crore beneficiaries are receiving foodgrains free of cost.
The Act mandates that State Governments identify households to be covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) categories, within the beneficiary ceiling determined for the State. The criteria for identifying beneficiaries under the PHH category may vary by state.
Under the NFSA, AAY households receive 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month, while PHH are entitled to 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month free of cost. Foodgrains are defined as rice, wheat, coarse grains, or any combination thereof, conforming to quality norms determined by the Central Government. The document does not specify whether essential items like cooking oil and pulses are provided through the PDS.
Key Entities Referenced
Public Distribution System: A government-run system for distributing food and other essential items to the public at subsidized rates.
National Food Security Act, 2013: An Act of the Parliament of India which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of the country's population.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana: A scheme to provide highly subsidized food grains to the poorest families.
Targeted Public Distribution System: Aimed at poor and vulnerable sections of the society. Provides food and essential items at subsidized prices to identified beneficiaries.
SHRI AMRA RAM: Member of LOK SABHA who raised a question about food security schemes.
NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA: Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
Census 2011: The 15th National Census of India, which provided population data used to determine coverage under the National Food Security Act.
Rajasthan: The home state of SHRI AMRA RAM, likely the context for his interest in food security schemes.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1688
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2025
FOOD SECURITY SCHEMES IN PDS
1688. SHRI AMRA RAM:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTiON
be pleased to state:
(a) the number of families (without Government service) deprived of food security schemes
under the Public Distribution System(PDS) along with the State-wise list thereof;
(b) the criteria for depriving someone of food security in the PDS;
(c) whether the Government intends to provide food security to such families again and if
so, the time by which it is likely to be done and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether apart from foodgrains, essential items like cooking oil, pulses, etc. are also
being provided through the food distribution system in the country; and
(e) if so, the details thereoF
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIM ATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a) to (c): The Public Distribution System is now governed as per the provisions of the
National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFS A) which aims to supplement the food requirements of
upto 75% of the rural and upto 50% of the urban population, which at Census 2011 comes to
81.35 crore persons. The Coverage under the Act is substantially high to ensure that all the
vulnerable and needy sections of the society get its benefit. At present, against the intended
coverage of 81.35 crore, 80.56 crore beneficiaries are receiving foodgrains free of cost.
The Act provides that the State Government shall, within the ceiling of beneficiaries
determined for the State, identify the households to be covered under the Antyodaya Anna
Yojana to the extent specified by the Central Government, in accordance with the guidelines
applicable to the said scheme and the remaining households as priority households to be
covered under the Targeted Public Distribution System, in accordance with such guidelines
evolved by the State Government itself. Thus, the criteria for identification of beneficiaries
under Priority Households Category may vary from State to State.(d) to (e): Under the Act, while Antyodaya Anna Yojana (A AY) households, which constitute
poorest of the poor are entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains, per household per month, Priority
Households (PHU) are entitled to 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month free of cost.
The term “foodgrains” is defined as rice, wheat or coarse grains or any combination
thereof conforming to such quality norms as may be determined, by order, by the Central
Government from time to time
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