**Policy Summary: Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2833, concerning the provision of free rations to the poor, answered on August 6, 2025. The Indian government is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) across all states and union territories. The scheme aims to cover up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population, based on Census 2011 figures, which equates to a target of 81.35 crore beneficiaries. As of July 31, 2025, 80.56 crore beneficiaries have been identified by the States/UTs for receiving free foodgrains under the Act.
The quantity of foodgrains distributed under PMGKAY over the past five years is as follows:
* 2021: 4,42,83,988 MT
* 2022: 4,89,79,847 MT
* 2023: 4,90,36,431 MT
* 2024: 5,00,71,936 MT
* 2025 (as of 31.07.2025): 3,03,42,719 MT
The government asserts that sufficient foodgrain stocks are available in the Central Pool to meet the demands of the PMGKAY.
The total food subsidy released since 2014-15 is as follows (in crore INR):
* 2014-15: 113171.16
* 2015-16: 134919.00
* 2016-17: 130672.96
* 2017-18: 139981.69
* 2018-19: 171127.49
* 2019-20: 152672.35
* 2020-21: 541126.77
* 2021-22: 288718.54
* 2022-23: 272501.70
* 2023-24: 211393.85
* 2024-25: 199500.00
* 2025-26 (as of 29th July 2025): 53404.99
The Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shrimati Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): A government scheme that provides foodgrains to vulnerable and needy sections of the society.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The government ministry responsible for consumer affairs, food, and public distribution.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question was raised.
Shri Ann Yeshwant Desai: The Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question in the Lok Sabha.
Shrimati Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya: The Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food Public Distribution who answered the question.
Census 2011: The most recent census conducted in India, used as a reference for population data in the PMGKAY scheme.
Central Pool: Government-owned stock of foodgrains.
2014-15: Financial year used as the starting point for data on food subsidy released.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2833
TO BE ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2025
FREE RATION TO POOR
2833. Shri Ann Yeshwant Desai:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC
DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a): whether it is a fact that Government is extending free ration facilities to the
poor who are not in a position to buy it;
(b): if so, the details along with the quantity of the free ration distributed to the poor
during last five years;
(c): whether the country’s food production is sufficient to help these poor people;
and
(d): if so, the details of the expenditure incurred for the free ration facilities during
the last ten years?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a): The Government is successfully implementing the Pradhan iVlantri Garib Kalyan
Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in all the States/tiTs, which provides for coverage of upto 75% of
rural population and upto 50% of urban population, which at Census 2011 comes to 81.35
crore. Coverage under the PMGKAY is substantially high to ensure that all the vulnerable
and needy sections of the society get its benefit.
At present, against the intended coverage of 81.35 crore, 80.56 crore beneficiaries are
identified by the States/UTs under the Act for receiving foodgrains free of cost.2
(b): The Quantity offoodgrains distributed in the last five years is as follows:
Year Distributed quantity (in MT)
202 1 4,42,83,988
2022 4,89,79,847
2023 4,90,36,43 1
2024 5,00,71,936
20258
3,03,42,7 1 9
=--as on 31.07.2025
(c): Sufficient stocks are available in the Central Pool to meet the requirement of
foodgrains under the P]VIGKAY.
(d): A statement showing the food subsidy released since 2014-15 is at Annexure.
SeSc +:+: SeRANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN PART (d) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO.2833 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 06.08.2025 REGARDING “FREE
RATION TO POOR”.
Statement showing the food subsidy released since 2014-15
(in crore)
S.NO. Year
Total Subsidy released
I 2014- 15 113171.16
2 2015-16 1349 1 9.00
3 2016-17 130672.96
4 2017-18 139981.69
5 2018-19 171127.49
6 20 19-20 1 52672,35
7 2020-21 541126.77
8 202 1 -22 288718.54
9 2022-23 272501.70
10 2023 -24 211393.85
11 2024-25 199500.00
12 2025-268 53404.99
+- As on 29th Jujy 2025