Parliament Question: Objectives of Launching the PMGKAY

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4133 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12TH AUGUST, 2026 OBJECTIVES OF LAUNCHING THE PMGKAY 4133 SHRI (,YANESHWAR PATIL: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a) the aims and objectives of launching the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in various States across the country including the State of Madhya Pradesh and the achievements made since its inception; (b) the number of beneficiaries of the Scheme in the State of Mladhya Pradesh; (c) the details of the measures taken by the Government to ensure that the benefits of PMGKAY reach all eligible families; and (d) the details of the other steps taken by the Government to ensure that the foodgrains provided under PIVIGKAY conform to the prescribed nutritional standards and are adequate for the beneficiaries? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a): The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was launched with the specific purpose of ameliorating the hardships faced by the poor and needy due to economic disruptions caused by the CC)VID-19 outbreak in the country. The Central Government, 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, distributed 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 1 st January, 2024, with an estimated financial outlay of ? 11.80 lakh crore, to be borne by the Central Government(b): in Mladhya Pradesh, approximately 54,110,413 (16 July 2026) beneficiaries are receiving free foodgrains under the Pradhan IVlantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). (c): The PMGKAY is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State Governments. Under the joint responsibility of the Union and the States, the responsibility for identification of beneficiaries, 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, 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. States undertake the updation of their beneficiary database so that ineligible 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. (d): in order to improve the nutritional standards in targeted beneficiaries, the Government has revised the nutritional norms specified in Schedule-II of the Act, vide notification dated 25.01.2023. Further, in order to improve the level of nutrition, an advisory has also been issued to all the States/UTs to procure millets and distribute them to beneficiaries as per local consumption preferences and as per guidelines issued by the Central Government from time to time. 888+8