National Food Security Act

Why is in news? Centre extends free foodgrains under National Food Security Act; approves revision of One Rank One Pension scheme

The Union Ministry for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said that around 81.35 crore beneficiaries who earlier used to procure foodgrains at subsidised rates will now get the foodgrains free of cost. The Centre would bear the entire cost amounting to around 2 lakh crore rupees per year.

The National Food Security Act 2013 (also 'Right to Food Act') is an Indian Act of Parliament which aims to provide subsidized food grains, it was signed into law on 12 September 2013.

The beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act fall into two categories: Priority Households (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, each of which is entitled to 35 kg of food grains each month (5 kg per person per month). Wheat costs Rs. 2 per kg, rice costs Rs. 3 per kg and coarse grains cost Rs. 1 per kg.

The Act is in line with Goal 2 of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations General Assembly - seeks sustainable solutions to end hunger in all its forms by 2030 and to achieve food security.

The aim is to ensure that everyone everywhere has enough good-quality food to lead a healthy life.

The schemes such as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS), the Public Distribution System (PDS), and theIntegrated Child Development Services (ICDS) are included under the Act.

The Act is being implemented by all the States and the Union Territories.

The Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution is the nodal ministry for implementing this Act.

Objective: To provide for food and nutritional security in the human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate quantities of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity.

Coverage: The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) covers 50% of the urban population and 75% of the rural population, with uniform entitlement of 5 kg per person per month. However, the poorest of the poor households will continue to receive 35 kg of food grains per household per month under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY).

The State Ranking Index for NFSA was created to track the implementation of the NFSA and other reform measures across the country.

NFSA’s State Ranking Index for 2022:Odisha scored the first, followed by Uttar Pradeshand Andhra Pradesh.