**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1699 in Lok Sabha, scheduled for December 10, 2025, regarding the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in Punjab. It details the coverage of NFSA in Punjab, and clarifies the responsibilities of the Central and State/UT Governments regarding the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). It confirms no proposed revisions to the FPS-to-be beneficiary ratio or expansion of inclusion criteria.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **NFSA Coverage in Punjab:**
* NFSA 2013 covers 54.79% of the rural and 44.83% of the urban population in Punjab, providing free foodgrains.
* This equates to 141.45 lakh beneficiaries as per the Census 2011.
* The State Government of Punjab has identified beneficiaries up to this maximum permissible limit.
* **Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) Governance:**
* TPDS is governed by the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), under the joint responsibility of the Central and State/Union Territory (UT) Governments.
* The Central Government is responsible for procuring, allocating, and transporting foodgrains up to designated depots of the Food Corporation of India.
* State/UT Governments handle the allocation of foodgrains within their territories, distribution to eligible beneficiaries under TPDS, issuance of licenses to Fair Price Shops (FPSs), and oversight of FPS operations.
* The ratio of beneficiaries per FPS varies from State to State and FPS to FPS.
* **Beneficiary Identification:**
* Beneficiaries are identified under two categories: households covered under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and remaining households as priority households.
* State/UT Governments determine criteria for identifying priority households, within the coverage determined.
* Criteria for identifying beneficiaries under the Priority Households Category may vary from State to State depending upon Socio-Economic, demographic conditions of the State.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Central Government**
* **Impact:** Responsible for procurement, allocation, and transportation of foodgrains up to designated depots of the Food Corporation of India.
* **Action Required:** Fulfill responsibilities for procurement, allocation, and transportation.
**Stakeholder: State Government of Punjab**
* **Impact:** Responsible for identifying and distributing foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries under TPDS, issuance of licenses to Fair Price Shops (FPSs), and oversight of FPS operations.
* **Action Required:** Maintain the current beneficiary count within the maximum permissible limit and continue operational responsibilities within Punjab, according to TPDS rules.
**Stakeholder: Beneficiaries under NFSA in Punjab**
* **Impact:** Current coverage of NFSA remains unchanged.
* **Action Required:** Continue to adhere to the eligibility guidelines and processes for receiving foodgrains.
Key Entities Referenced
National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013: Central legislation providing subsidized food grains to a large section of the Indian population.
Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): The system under which the NFSA operates to distribute food grains to eligible beneficiaries, involving both central and state government responsibilities.
Punjab: Indian state where the impact of the NFSA is being assessed in the context of beneficiary numbers and Fair Price Shops (FPS).
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): A scheme under the NFSA providing food to the poorest households.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1699
TO BE ANSWERED ON IOT II DECEMBER, 2025
NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ACT
1699. SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be
pleased to state:
(a) the total number of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFS A) in Punjab as
of 2025
(b) the ratio of beneficiaries per FPS compared with the national average;
(c) whether the Government proposes to revise the FPS-to-be beneficiary ratio or expand
inclusion criteria; and
(d) if so, the details thereon
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a): The National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, provides for coverage of 54.79% of the rural
and 44.83 % of the urban population in the State of Punjab, for receiving free of cost foodgrains,
which at Census 2011 comes to 141.45 lakh persons. The State Government of Punjab has
identified beneficiaries upto the maximum permissible limit i.e. 141.45 lakh beneficiaries
determined under the Act.
(b) to (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, issuance of licenses to
Fair Price Shops (FPSs), and supervision over and monitoring of functioning of Fair Price Shops
(FPSs), etc rest with the concerned State/UT Government. Thus, the ratio of beneficiaries per FPS
may vary from State to State and FPS to FPS.-2-
Identification of beneficiaries under the Act is under two categories- households covered under
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) to the extent specified by the Central Government and the
remaining households as priority households to be identified by the State Governments/ Union
Territories (UT) Administrations as per criteria evolved by them, within the coverage determined
for the State/UT. Thus, the criteria for identification of beneficiaries under Priority Households
Category may vary from State to State depending upon Socio-Economic, demographic conditions
of the State
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