Parliament Question: Transformation of PMGKAY into a National Nutrition Security Programme

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1691 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29°" JULY, 2026 TRANSFORMATION OF PMGKAY INTO A NATIONAL NUTRITION SECURITY PROGRAMME 1691 SMT. ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has assessed the nutritional impact of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) on beneficiary households, particularly with regard to reducing malnutrition, anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies among women, children and other vulnerable groups and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government proposes to transform PMGKAY from a food security programme into a comprehensive National Nutrition Security Programme by progressively including pulses, millets (Shree Anna), fortified food grains and other nutritious food items under the Public Distribution System (PDS); (c) if so, the details of the proposed policy framework, implementation strategy, financial implications and timeline thereof; and (d) if not, the reasons therefor and the measures being taken to strengthen the nutritional security of economically weaker households while ensuring the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the country's food security system? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a) to (d): Government is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) which provides food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food free of cost to people to live a life with dignity. The PMGKAY is being implemented in all the States/UTs aims to supplement the food requirements of upto 75% of the rural and upto 50% of the urban population, which at Census 2011 comes to 81.35 crore persons. While Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute poorest of the poor are entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains, per household per month, Priority Households (PHH) are entitled to 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month free of cost. TheCoverage under the Act is substantially high to ensure that all the vulnerable and needy sections of the society get its benefit. The Public Distribution System is now governed as per the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013. Under the Act, the term “foodgrains” is defined as rice, wheat or coarse grains or any combination thereof conforming to such quality norms as may be determined, by order, by the Central Government from time to time. 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. Further, 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. At present, no proposal for inclusion of more commodities under the scheme is under consideration of the Government. sek