Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) is a scheme as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat to supply free food grains to migrants and poor.
PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana 2025:
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) is a government welfare scheme launched by the Government of India to ensure food security for the most vulnerable sections of society, especially the poor and needy. It was first introduced in March 2020 as a response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.
Under this scheme, the center provides 5kg of free food grains per month to the poor. This is in addition to the subsidized (Rs 2-3 per kg) ration provided under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) to families covered under the Public Distribution System (PDS). The food grain and the amount may be variable.
Phase VI:
The PMGKAY scheme for Phase VI from April-September, 2022 would entail an estimated additional food subsidy of Rs. 80,000 Crore.
Note:
Check One Nation One Ration Card Scheme which provides an option to all eligible ration cardholders or beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 for accessing their entitlements from anywhere in India.
Key Features:
- Free Food Grains: The scheme provides free food grains to the poor, especially those covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), which includes families under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH).
- Food Grain Distribution: Beneficiaries receive 5 kg of food grains (wheat or rice) per person per month, along with an additional 1 kg of pulses per family per month.
- Coverage: The scheme covers more than 80 crore people (approximately 800 million individuals) across India, ensuring that the most economically disadvantaged are supported with food during times of hardship.
- Implementation: The scheme is implemented through the Public Distribution System (PDS), where food grains are distributed to beneficiaries through fair price shops.
- Extension of the Scheme: The government has extended the PMGKAY multiple times, depending on the prevailing circumstances like the COVID-19 situation or any other national crises.
Benefits
- PMGKAY provides 5 kg of food grain to each family holding a ration card free of cost and the 5 kg of subsidized food grain already offered through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
- Wheat has been allocated to 6 States/UTs, – Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Gujarat, and rice has been provided to the remaining States/UTs.
Eligibility
- Families belonging to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) categories will be eligible for the scheme.
- PHH are to be identified by State Governments/Union Territory Administrations as per criteria evolved by them. AAY families are to be identified by States/UTs as per the criteria prescribed by the Central Government:
- Households headed by widows or terminally ill persons or disabled persons or persons aged 60 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support.
- 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, destitutes and other similar categories in both rural and urban areas.
- All eligible Below Poverty Line families of HIV positive persons
Application Process
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.
Documents Required
- Ration Card
- Aadhar Card (if seeded with Ration Card)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are eligible for the scheme?
How do I know if I am NFSA Beneficiary?
How Do I avail the Scheme? Is there any application process?
Interested person shall visit nearest Fair Price Shop with Ration Card