This document summarizes the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding foodgrain distribution to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families as of June 30, 2025. The response, provided by the Minister of State for the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, clarifies that the government no longer utilizes a BPL classification for food security programs. Instead, it employs the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), developed in 2021, to measure poverty across health, education, and standard of living indicators.
The National MPI Report 2023, released by NITI Aayog, indicates a decline in multidimensional poverty from 24.85% to 14.96% between 2015-16 and 2019-21, with approximately 135.5 million people escaping poverty during this period.
The National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013, implemented nationwide, aims to provide food security to up to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population, based on Census 2011 figures, totaling 81.35 crore persons. The NFSA categorizes beneficiaries into Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households (the poorest of the poor), entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains per family per month, and Priority Households (PHH), entitled to 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month free of cost. Currently, 80.56 crore beneficiaries are receiving foodgrains free of cost under the NFSA.
The NFSA operates under the joint responsibility of the Central and State/UT Governments. State/UT governments are responsible for the identification of eligible beneficiaries/families and the distribution of foodgrains.
Key Entities Referenced
BPL families: Below Poverty Line families, a socio-economic group targeted by government programs.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The Indian government ministry responsible for consumer protection, food security, and public distribution systems.
Multidimensional Poverty Index MPI: A comprehensive index developed by the Government to measure poverty.
NITI Aayog: National Institution for Transforming India, a policy think tank of the Government of India.
National Food Security Act, 2013 NFSA: 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 AAY: A scheme to provide food grains to the poorest of the poor families.
Priority Households PHH: A category of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013, entitled to subsidized food grains.
StatesUTs: States and Union Territories of India, responsible for the operational responsibilities.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 602
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23m JULY, 2025
FOOD(JRAINS FOR BPL FAMILIES
602. SHRI ADHIKARI DEEPAK DEV:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD AND PUBLIC
DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state :
(a) whether the Government has any data on the BPL family in the country as on 30 June
2025
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(b) if so, the details of the last five years; and
(c) if not, the mechanisms followed by the Government for the distribution of
Government foodgrain schemes to the BPL families?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a) to (c) in 2021, the Government has developed a comprehensive index known as
Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) to measure poverty by capturing overlapping
deviations in dimensions such as health, education and standard of living, covering 12
indicators. It measures both the share of people in poverty and the degree to which they are
deprived. The second edition of the index was released in 2023. As per the National MPI
Report, 2023 released by NITI Aayog, the proportion of population in multidimensional
poverty declined from 24.85% to 14.96% between 2015-16 and 2019-21, indicating that
about 135.5 million persons have escaped poverty during the period.The National Food Security Act, 20 13 (NFSA). being implemented in all the
States/UTs on an all-India basis, aims to supplement the food requirements of up to 75% of
the rural and up to 50% of the urban population. which, as per Census 2011, comes to 81 .35
crore persons. There are two categories of beneficiaries under the Act: (1) Antyodaya Anna
Yojana and (2) Priority Households. There is no BPL category under the Act. Under the Act,
while Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute the poorest of the poor,
are entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains per family Der month, Priority Households (PHII) are
entitled to 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month free of cost. At present, against the
intended coverage of 81.35 crore, 80.56 crore beneficiaries are receiving foodgrains free of
cost. The Coverage under the Act is substarKialiy high to ensure that all the vulnerable and
needy sections of the society get its benefit.
The NFSA is operated under the .joinl’ responsibilities of the Central and State/UT
Governments, wherein the operational fesp6nsibilitiei, including the identification of eligible
beneficiaries/families and distribution, rest with the conchned State/UT Government.
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