PM-GKAY

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 ₹1, ₹2, and ₹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 ₹11.80 lakh crore (₹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.

• 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.

• 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.