Parliament Question: Protection of Food Security Entitlements during Electoral Roll Revisions

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1760 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29"! JULY, 2026 PROTECTION OF FOOD SECURITY ENTITLEMENTS DURING ELECTORAL ROLL REVISIONS 1760 SHRI ABHISHEK BANERJEE: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of concerns that deletion of names from electoral rolls has resulted in or may result in denial, suspension or disruption of benefits under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) or other welfare schemes and if so, the details thereof: (b) whether the Government considers foodgrain entitlements under the NFSA to be statutory rights that cannot be denied solely on account of deletion or non-inclusion of a person's name in the electoral roll and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether any advisory or standard operating procedure has been issued to States and Union Territories to ensure that electoral roll revisions are not used as a basis for suspension or cancellation of NFSA benefits or other welfare and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and (d) whether the Government has received complaints regarding denial or interruption of NFSA entitlements due to electoral roll revisions or related verification exercises and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken, State/UT-wise? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a) to (c): Under the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), the identification of eligible households and updating of the list of beneficiaries is the responsibility of the respective State/UT Governments. Section 10 of the NFSA provides that the State Governments shall identify priority households and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and periodically update the list of eligible households within the coverage determined under Section 9 of the Act. Accordingly, identification, inclusion or deletion of beneficiaries under the NFSA is undertaken by the respective State/UT Governments in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the guidelines framed by them. (d): No such complaints have been received in the Department. ry