Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana is a food security scheme of the Government of India that gives free food grains to poor families across the country. It was announced on 26 March 2020 and started from April 2020, and it now covers about 81.35 crore people who hold ration cards under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
The Union Cabinet has extended the scheme until December 2028, so eligible families keep getting their monthly grain free of cost from their nearest Fair Price Shop. This makes sure that no poor household goes without rice, wheat or coarse grains.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana - Introduction
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana works through the Public Distribution System. It gives free food grains to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH) that are covered under the NFSA. The grain that families earlier bought at subsidised rates is now fully free under this scheme.
Priority Households get 5 kg of free food grain per person every month. Antyodaya Anna Yojana families, who are among the poorest, get 35 kg of grain per family every month. The type of grain, whether rice, wheat or coarse grains, depends on the state and its availability.
Since January 2023 the free grain benefit has been merged with the regular NFSA ration. This means the monthly ration that a family collects from the ration shop is now fully free, and there is no separate payment needed for it.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana |
| Level | Central |
| Launched | 26 March 2020 |
| Beneficiaries | About 81.35 crore NFSA ration card holders |
| Benefit | 5 kg free grain per person per month (PHH), 35 kg per family (AAY) |
| Scheme Valid Until | December 2028 |
| Helpline | 1967 (toll free) |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food And Public Distribution |
| Official Website | dfpd.gov.in |
Benefits
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana brings two main benefits to the kitchen of every eligible family:
- Each Priority Household gets an extra 5 kg of food grain free of cost for every member every month, over and above the normal ration.
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana families get 35 kg of grain per family every month, fully free, without any payment at the ration shop.
The government allocates wheat to states such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Delhi and Gujarat, while rice is provided to most other regions. Coarse grains are given in some states based on local availability.
Eligibility
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana covers families that hold a ration card under the NFSA. The eligible groups are:
- Priority Households: These families are identified by the state government or union territory administration and get 5 kg of free grain per person every month.
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana Families: These are the poorest families and include households headed by widows, terminally ill persons or people with disabilities, persons aged 60 years or more with no support, primitive tribal households, landless agricultural labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans, slum dwellers and informal daily wage earners. They get 35 kg of free grain per family every month.
Having a ration card alone does not guarantee the benefit. The card must be listed under the PHH or AAY category in the NFSA database. Families with Above Poverty Line cards that are not part of the NFSA quota are not covered.
Application Process
There is no separate application form for this scheme. The benefit is linked to the ration card and is given at the Fair Price Shop. The steps are simple:
STEP 1 - Visit the designated Fair Price Shop linked to the ration card in the locality. The dealer name and address are printed on the ration card.
STEP 2 - Carry the physical ration card and complete Aadhaar-based authentication using a fingerprint, iris scan or the OTP sent to the registered mobile number.
STEP 3 - Collect the allocated quantity of grain, which is measured in front of the beneficiary, and take the POS receipt that shows the quantity and date.
STEP 4 - Check the transaction later on the state ration portal or by calling the toll free helpline 1967 to confirm the dealer recorded the correct quantity.
Documents
To collect the monthly grain, keep the following documents ready at the ration shop:
- Valid Ration Card that is listed under the PHH or AAY category.
- Aadhaar Card, ideally seeded with the ration card, for smooth biometric authentication.
Definitions
NFSA Beneficiary
The National Food Security Act covers nearly two-thirds of the total population of India based on 2011 census estimates. It entitles 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population to receive highly subsidised food grains. Coverage is decided at the state and union territory level by NITI Aayog based on household consumption data.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana Households
This category focuses on the poorest families. It includes widows, elderly people with no support, primitive tribal households, landless labourers and informal daily wage earners. These families get 35 kg of free grain every month.
References
Official Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana page on dfpd.gov.in
FAQ's
Who is eligible for this scheme?
Any family that holds a ration card under the National Food Security Act and is listed under the Priority Household or Antyodaya Anna Yojana category can get the benefit.
How do I check if I am an NFSA beneficiary?
Check the ration card category on the state ration portal or visit the nearest Fair Price Shop. The official scheme details are available on the Department of Food and Public Distribution website at dfpd.gov.in.
How do I get the benefit? Is there an application process?
There is no separate application form. Visit the nearest Fair Price Shop with the ration card and complete Aadhaar-based authentication to collect the monthly grain.
