Parliament Question: Free Foodgrains under PMGKAY

ORIGINAL IN HINDI GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1827 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10TH DECEMBER, 2025 FREE FOODGRAINS UNDER PMGKAY + 1827. SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

be pleased to state:

(a) the number and details of beneficiaries who have received free foodgrains under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) during the last five years, especially in Maharashtra particularly of Parbhani Parliamentary constituency;

(b) the impact of PMGKAY in ensuring food security among the economically weaker sections especially in Parbhani Parliamentary constituency;

(c) the measures taken by the Government to strengthen the logistics and supply chain mechanism for uninterrupted distribution offoodgrains under PMGKAY in Maharashtra;

(d) the details of integrated technology to ensure transparency in distribution under PM(JKAY and reduce leakages; and

(e) the details of the review conducted by the Government in this regard? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS.

FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a) & (b): A Statement indicating the number of beneficiaries covered under the Pradhan Mantd Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) during last five years in the country (including State of Maharashtra) is as follows:Financial Year Number of beneficiaries covered under the PMGKAY (in lakh) All India Maharashtra 1 2020-2 1 7932.80

700.17 (As on 31.03.2021) 2021 -22

7972.53 700. 17 (As on 31.03.2022) 2022-23

8010.70 700.17 (As on 3 1.03.2023) 2023-24

8049.94 700.17 (As on 3 1.03.2024) 2024-25

8056.05 700.17 (As on 3 1.03.2025) 2025-26

8056.05 700. 17 (As on 30.11.2025) Constituency-wise beneficiary data is not maintained by the Central Government.

(c): The PMGKAY was launched with the specific purpose of ameliorating the hardships faced by the poor and needy due to economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. In view of COVID crisis, the allocation of free foodgrains, under PMGKAY was in addition to regular allocation for around 80 crore beneficiaries. A total quantity of approx. 1118 LMT foodgrains was allocated under PMGKAY (Phase I-VII) for the period of 28 months with a total planned financial outlay was about Rs. 3.91 lakh crore.

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 food grains free of cost to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH) beneficiaries, beginning from lst January 2023 under the PMGKAY. The period for distribution of free of cost foodgrains has been extended for five years from lst January, 2024, with an estimated financial outlay of Rs. 11.80 lakh crore totally to be borne by Central Government.

(d): Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is now governed as per the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFS A), 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 concerned State/UT Government(e) & (f): in order to ensure proper functioning of the Act, reforms in the Targeted Public Distribution System are being undertaken in consonance with Section 12 of the Act. Some of these reforms include digitization of 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 ration cards, full transparency of records and putting in place of a strong Grievance redressal machinery. States are undertaking updation of their beneficiary database so that bogus ration cards get deleted and better targeting of rightful beneficiaries is ensured. Thus, deletion of ineligible beneficiaries and addition of eligible beneficiaries under the Act is a continuous process.

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