**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to questions regarding the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), a program providing free foodgrains. The response outlines the number of beneficiaries, impact, measures taken, and technological integration within the program. The information was provided in response to questions in Lok Sabha to be answered on December 10th, 2025. The program has been extended for five years from January 1st, 2024.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Beneficiary Numbers:**
* All India: Between approximately 7932.80 to 8056.05 lakh beneficiaries were covered annually from 2020-21 to 2025-26.
* Maharashtra: Approximately 700.17 lakh beneficiaries were covered annually in each of those years.
* Constituency-wise data is not maintained.
* **PMGKAY Purpose and Scope:**
* Launched to alleviate hardships faced by the poor due to COVID-19 economic disruptions.
* Allocated approximately 1118 LMT of foodgrains under Phases I-VII, with a financial outlay of Rs. 3.91 lakh crore.
* Free food grains are provided to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH) beneficiaries.
* Extended for five years from January 1st, 2024, with a total outlay of Rs. 11.80 lakh crore.
* **Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS):**
* Governed by the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).
* Operated jointly by Central and State/UT Governments.
* Central Government: Responsible for procurement, allocation, and transportation of foodgrains up to FCI depots.
* State/UT Governments: Responsible for allocation within states, distribution to beneficiaries, and supervision of Fair Price Shops (FPSs).
* **Reforms for Proper Functioning:**
* Digitization of ration cards and beneficiary database.
* Seeding of Aadhaar numbers in the digitized database.
* Online allocation of foodgrains.
* Computerization of Supply Chain Management.
* Automation of Fair Price Shops.
* Portability of ration cards.
* Full transparency of records.
* Strong Grievance Redressal machinery.
* Continuous process of deleting ineligible and adding eligible beneficiaries.
**Impact Analysis**
**Beneficiaries (AAY and PHH households)**
* **Impact:** Reduced financial burden through provision of free foodgrains.
* **Action Required:** Verification of eligibility under updated beneficiary database to continue receiving benefits.
**State/UT Governments**
* **Impact:** Operational responsibility for foodgrain allocation, distribution, and supervision within their jurisdiction.
* **Action Required:** Implement reforms in the TPDS, including digitization, Aadhaar seeding, and strengthening grievance redressal mechanisms.
**Central Government**
* **Impact:** Overall responsibility for procurement, allocation, and transportation of foodgrains.
* **Action Required:** Ensure sufficient allocation and efficient transportation of foodgrains to designated depots.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): A scheme to provide free foodgrains to beneficiaries, especially the economically weaker sections.
Maharashtra: A state specifically mentioned in the context of the scheme's impact and distribution.
Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): The system through which foodgrains are distributed to eligible beneficiaries.
National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA): The legal framework governing the Targeted Public Distribution System.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution: The central ministry responsible for the PMGKAY scheme.
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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