**Executive Summary**
The document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 731 in the Lok Sabha, concerning the foodgrains provided under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). The response, dated February 4th, 2026, details the types of foodgrains provided, measures to enhance nutritional security, provisions for women and children, recourse for beneficiaries not receiving their quota, and the scheme's implementation in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. There are no explicit action items stated.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Foodgrains under PMGKAY:**
* Free foodgrains, defined as rice, wheat, coarse grains, or any combination thereof, are distributed under PMGKAY.
* Foodgrain quality conforms to standards determined by the Central Government.
* **Nutritional Security:**
* An advisory encourages States/UTs to procure and distribute millets based on local preferences and Central Government guidelines.
* **Provisions for Women and Children:**
* Under the National Food Security Act, 2013, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children aged 6 months to 14 years receive meals as per nutritional norms under ICDS and PM-POSHAN schemes.
* Higher nutritional norms are prescribed for malnourished children up to 6 years of age.
* Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a cash maternity benefit of at least Rs. 6,000.
* **Non-Supply of Foodgrains:**
* Section 8 of the Act provides that if entitled persons do not receive their foodgrain quota, they are entitled to receive a food security allowance in cash from the concerned State Government.
* The Food Security Allowance Rule, 2015, was notified on 21.01.2015.
* **Implementation in Dadra and Nagar Haveli:**
* PMGKAY is successfully implemented in all States/UTs including the UT of DNH&DD.
* In urban areas of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, PMGKAY is implemented via Direct Cash Transfer as per the Cash Transfer of Food Subsidy Rule, 2015, enabling eligible households to purchase foodgrains from the open market.
**Impact Analysis**
**Beneficiaries of PMGKAY**
* **Impact:** Ensures access to free foodgrains or cash allowance. Improves nutritional security, particularly for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of their entitlements under the PMGKAY scheme and report any non-supply of foodgrains to the concerned authorities to claim the food security allowance.
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Responsible for ensuring the supply of foodgrains to entitled persons. Also responsible for providing a cash food security allowance in the event food grains are not supplied.
* **Action Required:** Procure and distribute millets, provide cash allowance when required, and ensure PMGKAY's effective implementation.
**Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution**
* **Impact:** Monitors the overall implementation of PMGKAY. Determines the quality norms of foodgrains to be distributed.
* **Action Required:** Oversee the implementation of PMGKAY, continue to issue relevant advisories and guidelines, and ensure compliance with the National Food Security Act, 2013.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): A scheme to provide free foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries.
National Food Security Act, 2013: Act providing food security including nutritional support to pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli: Union Territory where PMGKAY is implemented with specific provisions, including Direct Cash Transfer in urban areas.
Section 8 of the Act: Provision in the National Food Security Act that provides for food security allowance in case of non-supply of foodgrains.
Cash Transfer of Food Subsidy Rule, 2015: Rule under which cash equivalent of subsidy is directly transferred into the bank accounts of eligible households to enable them to purchase foodgrains from open market.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 73 1
TO BE ANSWERED ON 4Tll FEBRUARY, 2026
FOODGRAINS PROVIDED UNDER PMGKAY
t’731. SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a): the names of foodgrains being provided under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna
Yojana (PMGKAY) in the various States/Union Territories of the country;
(b): the steps taken to strengthen nutritional security through the said scheme;
(C): the details of provisions made for women and children under the said scheme;
(d): the measures available to the beneficiaries in case they do not receive foodgrains as per
their entitled quota; and
(e): the details of the said scheme in the Union Territory ofDadra and Nagar Haveli?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a): Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), free of cost foodgrains are
being distributed to eligible beneficiaries. 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.
(b): in order to improve the level of nutrition among the targeted beneficiaries, an advisory has
also been issued to all the States/UTs to procure millets and distribute them to beneficiaries as per
local consumption preferences and as per guidelines issued by the Central Government from time
to time
(c): The National Food Security Act, 2013 provides that pregnant women and lactating mothers
and children in the age group of 6 months to 14 years are entitled to meals as per prescribed
nutritional norms under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and PM-POSHAN
schemes. Higher nutritional norms are prescribed for malnourished children upto 6 years of age.
Pregnant women and lactating mothers are further entitled to receive cash maternity benefit
of not less than Rs. 6,000 to partly compensate for the wage loss during the period of pregnancy
and also to supplement nutrition.(d): Section 8 of the Act, provides that in case of non- supply of the entitled quantities of
foodgrains to entitled persons, such persons shall be entitled to receive such food security
allowance in cash from the concerned State Government, within such time and manner as may be
prescribed by the Central Government. In this regard, Government of India notified Food Security
Allowance Rule, 2015 on 21.01.2015.
(e): The PMIGKAY is being successfully implemented in all States/UTs including UT of
DNH&DD.
In urban areas of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, PMGKAY is being implemented in Direct Cash
Transfer mode as per the provisions of Cash Transfer of Food Subsidy Rule, 2015 under which
cash equivalent of subsidy is being transferred directly into the Bank accounts of eligible
households to enable them to purchase foodgrains from open market.
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