Executive Summary:
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 493 regarding the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). It details the number of beneficiaries, the impact of PMGKAY on food security, measures to strengthen logistics and supply chains, and technological interventions for transparency. The period for free foodgrain distribution under PMGKAY has been extended for five years from January 1, 2024.
Key Points / Main Content:
Beneficiary Statistics:
* The number of beneficiaries covered under PMGKAY has steadily increased from 7932.80 lakh in 2020-21 to 8056.05 lakh as of July 1, 2025.
Impact on Food Security:
* PMGKAY supplements food requirements for up to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population.
* Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households receive 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month.
* Priority Households (PHH) receive 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month, free of cost.
* 80.56 crore beneficiaries are currently receiving free foodgrains under PMGKAY, against an intended coverage of 81.35 crore.
* Free foodgrain distribution has been extended for five years from January 1, 2024.
* In urban areas of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, PMGKAY is implemented via Direct Cash Transfer Mode (Rs. 43.28 per Kg for Rice and Rs.30.31 per Kg for Wheat).
Logistics and Supply Chain:
* The Central Government is responsible for procurement, allocation, and transportation of foodgrains up to designated Food Corporation of India depots.
* State/UT Governments are responsible for the allocation and distribution of foodgrains within their jurisdictions, supervision of Fair Price Shops (FPSs), etc.
Transparency and Leakage Reduction:
* Reforms include digitization of ration cards/beneficiary databases.
* Aadhaar seeding in digitized databases.
* Online allocation of foodgrains.
* Computerization of Supply Chain Management.
* Automation of Fair Price Shops.
* Portability of ration cards.
* Transparency of records and a strong Grievance redressal machinery.
Impact Analysis:
Beneficiaries (Economically Weaker Sections):
* Impact: Improved food security and reduced financial burden through the provision of free foodgrains.
* Action Required: Register and utilize the PMGKAY scheme to receive entitled foodgrains or cash transfers.
Central Government:
* Impact: Responsible for procurement, allocation, and transportation of foodgrains, as well as overall policy and funding.
* Action Required: Maintain efficient procurement and transportation systems to ensure timely foodgrain delivery.
State/UT Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for the effective distribution of foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries and the supervision of Fair Price Shops.
* Action Required: Ensure proper implementation of PMGKAY, monitor FPS operations, and address grievances effectively.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): A food security scheme to provide free foodgrains to economically weaker sections.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli: A Union Territory in India where PMGKAY is being implemented.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India where measures are taken to strengthen the logistics and supply chain mechanism for uninterrupted foodgrain distribution under PMGKAY
Maharashtra: A state in India where measures are taken to strengthen the logistics and supply chain mechanism for uninterrupted foodgrain distribution under PMGKAY
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): A scheme to provide foodgrains to the poorest of the poor households.
Priority Households (PHH): Households entitled to 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month free of cost under PMGKAY.
National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA): Legislation governing the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and aimed at providing food security.
Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): A system for distributing foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries at subsidized prices.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 493
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23RD JULY, 2025
FREE FOODGRAINS UNDER PMGKAY
t493. DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE:
SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL
:
SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM:
SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the number of beneficiaries receiving free foodgrains under Pradhan
Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) during the current year till date as compared
to last five years;
(b) the impact of PMGKAY in ensuring food security among the economically weaker
sections particularly ofDadra and Nagar Haveli;
(c) the measures taken by the Government to strengthen the logistics and supply chain
mechanism for uninterrupted foodgrain distribution under PMGKAY in various States/UTs
including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Union Territory ofDadra and Nagar Haveli; and
(d) the details of technological interventions integrated to ensure transparency and reduce
leakages in PMGKAY distribution?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a): A Statement indicating the number of beneficiaries covered under the Pradhan Mantri
Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) during last five years in the country is as follows:-2-
Financial Year Number of beneficiaries covered under
PMGKAY (in lakh)
2020-21
(As on 3 1.03.202 1) 7932.80
2021 -22
(As on 3 1.03.2022) 7972.53
–2022-2 i
(As on 3 1.03.2023) 8010.70
2023-24
(As on 3 1.03.2024) 8049.94
2024-25
(As on 31.03.2025) 8056.05
2025-26
(As on 01.07.2025) 8056.05
(b): The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) being successfully
implemented in all the States/UTs including Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli,
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 Under the PMGKAY, while
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute poorest of the poor are entitled
to 35 kg of foodgrains, per household per month, Priority Households (PHH) 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 Central Government, in order to remove the financial burden of the poor
beneficiaries and to ensure nationwide uniformity and effective implementation of the
programme for support of the poor, had decided to provide free of cost foodgrains to
beneficiaries, beginning from lst January 2023 under the PMGKAY. The period fOI
distribution of free of cost foodgrains has been extended for five years from Ist January, 2024.-3-
Under the PMGKAY, the coverage of beneficiaries is substantially high to ensure that
all the vulnerable and needy sections of the society get its benefit. Provision of free foodgrains
mitigate financial hardship of the affected strata of society in a sustainable manner and ensure
long term pricing strategy with zero cost to the beneficiaries.
In Urban areas of Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Silvassa Municipal and Dadra Panchayat),
the PMGKAY is being implemented in Direct Cash Transfer Mode in which Cash equivalent
to Food Subsidy (i.e. Rs. 43.28/- per Kg for Rice and Rs.30.3 1/- per Kg for Wheat) is provided
directly into the bank account of beneficiaries. In remaining part of the UT of DNH&DD, the
free of cost foodgrains are being distributed to the beneficiaries.
(c): Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is now governed as per the provisions of
the Natidnal Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), which is operated under the joint responsibility
of the Central and State/Union Territory (UT) Governments. Central Government is
responsible for procurement, allocation and transportation of foodgrains upto the designated
depots of the Food Corporation of India. The operational responsibilities for allocation of
foodgrains within the States/UTs, distribution of foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries under
TPDS and supervision over and monitoring of functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs), etc rest
with the concenred State/UT Government.
(d): in consonance with Section 12 of the National Food Security Act, (NFSA), 2013 the
reforms undertaken in TDPS to ensure transparency and reduce leakage in PMGKAY
distribution include digitization Qf ration cards / beneficiaries database, seeding of unique
identification numbers (Aadhaar) in digitized database, online allocation of foodgrains,
computerization of Supply Chain Management, automation of Fair Price Shops, portability of
ratiod cards, full transparency of records and putting in place a strong Grievance redressal
machinery .
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