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 Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution clarifies that the government no longer uses the BPL category for food security programs. Instead, it utilizes the National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013, which aims to provide subsidized foodgrains to up to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population, based on the 2011 census, covering 813.5 million people.
The NFSA identifies two beneficiary categories: 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, provided free of cost. As of the report, 805.6 million beneficiaries are receiving foodgrains free of cost under the NFSA.
Furthermore, the government has adopted the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) to measure poverty, encompassing health, education, and standard of living across 12 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 implementation of the NFSA is a joint responsibility of the Central and State/Union Territory Governments, with the latter responsible for identifying beneficiaries and managing distribution.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The Indian government ministry responsible for consumer protection, food security, and public distribution.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question was raised.
Multidimensional Poverty Index: A comprehensive index developed by the Government of India to measure poverty, capturing overlapping deprivations in health, education, and standard of living.
NITI Aayog: A policy think tank of the Government of India, responsible for releasing the National MPI Report.
National Food Security Act, 2013: An Act of the Parliament of India which aims to provide subsidized food grains to a large section of the Indian population.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana: A scheme under the National Food Security Act, 2013, that provides highly subsidized food grains to the poorest families.
Priority Households: A category of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013, who are entitled to receive subsidized food grains.
2011 Census: The most recent census conducted in India, used as a basis for determining the coverage of the National Food Security Act, 2013.
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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