**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 1723 in the Lok Sabha, addressed on December 10, 2025, concerning the review of beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in Rajasthan. The Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution explains that revisions to coverage are dependent on the data from the next population Census. The Central Government has issued advisories to States/Union Territories to identify eligible beneficiaries, delete ineligible ration cards, and ensure better targeting of rightful beneficiaries.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **NFSA Coverage Determination:**
* Section 9 of the NFSA (2013) stipulates that the percentage coverage under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in rural and urban areas for each State is determined by the Central Government.
* The total number of persons to be covered in each State is calculated based on population estimates as per the most recently published Census figures.
* Revisions to NFSA coverage are contingent upon the availability of relevant data from the next population Census.
* **State Government Responsibilities:**
* As per sub-section (2) of Section 10 of the NFSA, the State Government must update the list of eligible households within the prescribed limits determined under section 9.
* **Central Government Advisories:**
* The Central Government has issued advisories to all States/Union Territories to identify eligible beneficiaries for inclusion under the Act.
* States are required to update their beneficiary database to delete ineligible ration cards and improve targeting of rightful beneficiaries.
* **Current Implementation in Rajasthan:**
* The NFSA is successfully implemented in Rajasthan, with coverage of 69.09% of the rural population and 53.00% of the urban population, equating to 446.62 lakh persons based on the Census 2011.
* Rajasthan has identified 440.01 lakh beneficiaries.
* There is still scope to identify 6.61 lakh more beneficiaries under the NFSA in Rajasthan.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Union Government**
**Impact**
* Responsible for determining the percentage coverage and total number of beneficiaries for each state.
* Issues advisories to States/UTs to identify eligible beneficiaries.
**Action Required**
* Awaiting relevant data from the next population Census to review NFSA coverage.
* Monitor the State Government activities.
**Stakeholder: State Government (Rajasthan)**
**Impact**
* Responsible for updating the list of eligible households within the limits determined by the Union Government.
**Action Required**
* Update the list of eligible households, and identify 6.61 lakh more beneficiaries.
**Stakeholder: Eligible Beneficiaries**
**Impact**
* Entitled to receive free food grains under the NFSA.
**Action Required**
* Ensure inclusion in the beneficiary database and receive food grains.
**Stakeholder: Ineligible Ration Card Holders**
**Impact**
* Ration cards will be deleted from the database.
**Action Required**
* Ensure removal from the beneficiary database and cease availing benefits.
Key Entities Referenced
National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA): The central law that governs the distribution of subsidized food grains to eligible beneficiaries in India. The question concerns its application in Rajasthan.
Rajasthan: The state where the percentage of beneficiaries under NFSA is being reviewed.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution: The central ministry responsible for the administration of the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
ORIGINAL IN HINDI
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1723
TO BE ANSWERED ON IOT Il DECEMBER, 2025
NFSA IN RAJASTHAN
t 1723. SMT. SANJNA JATAV:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be
pleased to state :
(a) whether the Union Government proposes to review the percentage of beneficiaries under the
National Food Security Act (NFS A) in Rajasthan, especially in view of the State Government's
request to revise the coverage limit based on the 2021 estimated population and increase the earlier
maximum limit of 4.46 crore beneficiaries by 15 percent;
(b) if so, the details of the steps taken by the Government in this regard and the time by which
this review is likely to be completed; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a) to (c): Section 9 of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (}JFSA), provides that the
percentage coverage under the Targeted Public Distribution System in rural and urban areas for
each State shall be determined by the Central Government and the total number of persons to be
covered in the State shall be calculated based on the population estimates as per the census of
which the relevant figures have been published. Therefore, any revision in the coverage under the
NFS A shall be possible only after the relevant data of the next population Census is published.
As per sub-section (2) of Section 10 of the Act, the State Government is required to update
the list of eligible households, within the number of persons determined under section 9 for the
rural and urban areas, in accordance with the guidelines framed under sub-section (1) of section 10.
In this regard, the Central Government has issued advisories, from time to time, to all the
States/Union Territories to identify all eligible and poor persons/ households including vulnerable
Sections of the Society for inclusion under the Act. States undertake updation of their beneficiary
database so that ineligible ration cards get deleted and better targeting of rightful beneficiaries is
ensured-2-
The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFS A), is being successfully implemented in all the
States/UTs including Rajasthan. The Act provides for coverage of 69.09 % of the rural and 53.00 %
of the urban population in the State, for receiving free of cost foodgrains, which at Census 2011
comes to 446.62 lakh persons.
At present, against the intended coverage of 446.62 lakh beneficiaries, the State of
Rajasthan has identified 440.01 lakh beneficiaries for receiving free of cost foodgrains under the
Act. Still, there is a scope of identification of 6.61 lakh more beneficiaries under the NFS A, in the
State of Rajasthan.
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