Program brief
| Form of support | In kind: goods or services, not cash |
|---|---|
| Level | Central |
| Run by | Ministry Of Finance, Department Of Economic Affairs |
| Field | Social welfare & Empowerment |
| Started | 2020 |
| How to apply | Offline |
Contents of this entry
Overview
The scheme aims to ensure food security for the poor. Through this scheme, free foodgrains are provided to eligible ration card holders under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
The scheme "Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)" has been launched by the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, and aims to ensure food security for the poor and vulnerable sections of the country by providing free food foodgrains. It was announced on 26 March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and is operated by the Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Through this scheme, free foodgrains (rice or wheat, depending on the State) are provided to eligible ration card holders covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013, namely Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH). From 1 January 2023, the scheme was integrated into the food security framework, and foodgrains earlier given at the highly subsidised rates of Rs. 1, Rs. 2, and Rs. 3 per kilogram for coarse cereals, wheat, and rice, respectively, are now provided free of cost. The scheme has been extended by the Union Cabinet for 5 years starting from 1 January 2024 and is approved for continuation till 31 December 2028, with a total financial outlay of Rs. 11.80 lakh crore (Rs. 11,80,000 crore). The scheme is implemented through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) by the state governments and Union Territory Administrations, with foodgrain allocation by the Government of India.
Further facts from the listing
| Scheme type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
|---|---|
| Scheme for | Family |
| DBT (direct bank transfer) | Yes |
Benefits
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families receive 35 kilograms of foodgrains per family per month.
- Priority Household (PHH) beneficiaries receive 5 kilograms of foodgrains per person per month.
- The foodgrains are provided as rice or wheat, depending on the state, with fortified rice distributed nationwide.
- Since January 2023, the foodgrains have been provided completely free of cost (at zero cost) to the beneficiaries.
- Through One Nation One Ration Card, beneficiaries can collect their ration from any fair price shop anywhere in India.
Eligibility
- Age
- 18 to 60 years
- The applicant should be a household belonging to the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) category or the Priority Households (PHH) category.
- Priority Households (PHH) are to be identified by the state governments/union territory administrations as per the criteria evolved by them.
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families are to be identified by the States / Union Territories as per the criteria prescribed by the Central Government, as listed below.
Criteria for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) Families:
- The applicant should be a household headed by a widow, a terminally ill person, a disabled person, or a person aged 60 years or more, with no assured means of subsistence or societal support.
- The applicant should be a widow, a terminally ill person, a disabled person, a person aged 60 years or more, a single woman, or a single man, with no family or societal support, and with no assured means of subsistence.
- The applicant should belong to a primitive tribal household.
- The applicant should be a landless agricultural laborer, a marginal farmer, or a rural artisan or craftsman (such as a potter, tanner, weaver, blacksmith, or carpenter); a slum dweller; or a person earning a livelihood on a daily basis in the informal sector (such as a porter, coolie, rickshaw puller, handcart puller, fruit and flower seller, snake charmer, rag picker, cobbler, or destitute person); or a person in other similar categories in both rural and urban areas.
- The applicant should belong to an eligible Below Poverty Line (BPL) family of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive person.
Who cannot apply
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Application steps
Offline
Interested persons shall visit the nearest Fair Price Shop with the Ration Card:
- Beneficiaries can quote either their ration card number or the Aadhaar number to any Fair Price Shop dealer across the country.
- Beneficiaries can undergo Aadhaar authentication by using their fingerprints or iris-based identification.
Terms used on this page
- NFSA Beneficiary
- The Act provides coverage for nearly 2/3rd of the country's total population, based on Census 2011 population estimates.
- 75% of the Rural and 50% of the Urban population is entitled to receive highly subsidized food grains under two categories of beneficiaries – Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH)
- State/UT-wise coverage is determined by the erstwhile Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog) on the basis of the 2011-12 Household Consumption Expenditure survey of NSSO(National Sample Survey Office).
- Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households
Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) involved the identification of one crore poorest of the poor families from amongst the number of BPL families covered under TPDS (Targetted Public The coverage includes -
- Widows or terminally ill persons or disabled persons or persons aged 60 years or more or single women or single men with no family or societal support or assured means of subsistence.
- All primitive tribal households.
- Landless agriculture labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans/craftsmen such as potters, tanners, weavers, blacksmiths, carpenters, slum dwellers, and persons earning their livelihood on daily basis in the informal sector like porters, coolies, rickshaw pullers, hand cart pullers, fruit and flower sellers, snake charmers, rag pickers, cobblers, destitute and other similar categories in both rural and urban areas.
- All eligible Below Poverty Line families of HIV-positive persons.
Questions and answers
What is the scheme is about?
It is a central government food security scheme implemented through the Public Distribution System (PDS), under which eligible ration card holders receive free rice or wheat every month, and it operates under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). It was announced on 26 March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who is eligible for the scheme?
Families belonging to the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) categories, identified under the National Food Security Act, 2013, are eligible.
How much foodgrain will a beneficiary receive?
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families receive 35 kilograms of foodgrains per family per month, while Priority Household (PHH) beneficiaries receive 5 kilograms of foodgrains per person per month.
Do beneficiaries have to pay for the foodgrains?
No. Since January 2023, the food grains have been provided completely free of cost (at zero cost) to the beneficiaries. Earlier, beneficiaries received their entitlement at the subsidized rates of Rs. 1, Rs. 2, and Rs. 3 per kilogram for coarse cereals, wheat, and rice, respectively.
Is there any application process for the scheme?
No, there is no separate application process; the benefits are automatically provided to eligible National Food Security Act ration card holders.
What should an applicant do if they do not have a ration card?
If the applicant does not already have a ration card under the National Food Security Act, the applicant should apply for one through the respective State Government's food and civil supplies department / portal; once the ration card is approved, the applicant automatically becomes eligible for the scheme. The issuance of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household (PHH) ration cards is dealt with by the respective State Government / Union Territory Administration.
Can a beneficiary collect their ration from another State?
Yes. Through One Nation One Ration Card, beneficiaries can collect their ration from any Fair Price Shop anywhere in India
What type of foodgrain is distributed?
Rice or wheat is distributed depending on the State, with fortified rice distributed nationwide.
Till when is the scheme valid?
The scheme has been extended by the Union Cabinet for 5 years starting from 1 January 2024, and is approved for continuation till 31 December 2028, with a total financial outlay of Rs. 11.80 lakh crore (Rs. 11,80,000 crore).
What is the Mera Ration 2.0 application?
Mera Ration 2.0 is a mobile application launched by the Department of Food and Public Distribution on 20 August 2024, which allows beneficiaries to check their monthly entitlement, view withdrawal history, and locate the nearest fair price shop.
Official portal and guidelines
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