Lok Sabha Question No. 5349 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: NFSA
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Abhay Kumar Sinha

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5349

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 25TH MARCH, 2026

## NFSA

## 5349. SHRI ABHAY  KUMAR  SINHA:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a): whether the Government has made any specific provision under the National Food Security Act for homeless persons and other vulnerable groups who do not possess any Below Poverty Line (BPL), Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)  or Above Poverty Line (APL) ration card to receive subsidised foodgrains;
- (b): if  so, the details and the exact mechanism through  which  such persons without  any ration  card receive foodgrains  and the number  of such beneficiaries  identified  so far. Statewise, particularly in Bihar, district-wise;
- (c): whether the Government  maintains a detailed and updated database of all BPL,  AAY and APL  card holders in the country;
- (d): if  so, the details thereof, State and district-wise particularly  for Bihar  especially in Aurangabad district;  and
- (e): the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to fully  digitise all BPL, APL  and AAY  ration  cards and link  them with  Aadhaar for better targeting  and transparency?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a) &  (b):  The Targeted Public Distribution  System  (TPDS) is now governed  as per the provision  of the National Food Security Act  (NFS A),  2013. Identification  of beneficiaries under the Act is under two categories  - Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)  and priority  households (PHH). There is no Above Poverty Line (APL) or Below Poverty Line (BPL) category under the Act.

The  Act  provides  that  the  State Government  shall,  within the  ceiling of  beneficiaries determined for the State, identify  the households to be covered under the AAY  to the extent specified by the Central Government, in accordance with the guidelines applicable to the said scheme and the remaining households as PHU to  be covered under the TPDS, in accordance with  such guidelines evolved by the State Government itself.  Thus, the criteria  for  identification of  beneficiaries under

Priority Households Category may vary from State to State. There is no specific provision for 'Homeless persons' under the Act.

- (c) &  (d): A  statement indicating  State/UT wise number of  beneficiaries covered under the Act, including  State of Bihar is at Annexure  I.

A  statement indicating  the district  wise number of beneficiaries  covered  under the Act  in the State of Bihar, including Aurangabad district, is provided at Annexure-II.

- (e): For better targeting and transparency, the Ration cards/ beneficiaries' database has been completely (100%) digitized in all  States/UTs and 99.7% of ration cards have been Aadhar seeded.

ScSeRS(  +cSc

## ANNEXITRE REFERRED TO IN  PART (D) OF THE  LOK  SABIIA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO, 5349 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 25.03.2026 REGARDING 'NFSA'.

Statement  indication State/UT wise number of beneficiaries  covered under the National Food Security Act  (NFSA). 2013

| S No   | StateName                          | Beneficiary Count (As on 23.03.2026)   | Beneficiary Count (As on 23.03.2026)   | Beneficiary Count (As on 23.03.2026)   |
|--------|------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
|        |                                    | AA\                                    | PI in                                  | Total                                  |
| 1      | ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS        | 11,463                                 | 49,900                                 | 6 1 ,363                               |
| 2      | ANDHRA PRADESH                     | 22,6 1 ,686                            | 2,45,61 ,5 1 7                         | 2,68,23,203                            |
| 3      | ARUNACHAL PRADESH                  | 1 ,58, 173                             | 7,24,824                               | 8,82,997                               |
| 4      | ASSAM                              | 21,50,112                              | 2,27,44,673                            | 2,48,94,785                            |
| 5      | BIHAR                              | 83,00,243                              | 7,7 1 ,24,599                          | 8,54,24,842                            |
| 6      | CHANDIGARFI                        | 926                                    | 3,43,413                               | 3.44,339                               |
| 7      | CHHATTISC;ARH                      | 18,63.494                              | 1,81,10,189                            | 1 ,99,73,683                           |
| 8      | DADAR & NAGAR HAVELI & DAMAN & DIU | 20.704                                 | 2,42,470                               | 2,63, 174                              |
| 9      | DELHI                              | 2,66,874                               | 69,42, 182                             | 72.09,056                              |
| 10     | GOA                                | 38,842                                 | 4,37,568                               | 4,76,4 10                              |
| 11     | GUJARAT                            | 3 1 ,90,729                            | 3,05,01 ,291                           | 3,36,92,020                            |
| 12     | HARYANA                            | 8, 12,965                              | 1.48,22,882                            | 1 ,56,35,847                           |
| 13     | HIMACHAL PRADESH                   | 6,37,786                               | 22,26,61 0                             | 28,64,396                              |
| 14     | JAMMU AND KASHMIR                  | 7,52,355                               | 50,83,2 1 0                            | 58,35,565                              |
| 15     | JHARKHAND                          | 33,64,649                              | 2,29,78,222                            | 2,63,42,87 1                           |
| 16     | KARNATAKA                          | 42,77,36 1                             | 3,59, 1 6,376                          | 4,0 1 ,93,737                          |
| 17     | KERALA                             | 18,56, 1 78                            | 1 ,34,39,202                           | 1 ,52,95,380                           |
| 18     | LADAKH                             | 18,804                                 | 94,299                                 | 1,13, 103                              |
| 19     | LAKSHADWEEP                        | 4,040                                  | 16,048                                 | 20,088                                 |
| 20     | N4ADHYA PRADESH                    | 47,3 1 ,63 1                           | 4,91,11,111                            | 5.38,42,742                            |
| 21     | MAHARAS[ITRA                       | 97,58,759                              | 5,79, 1 8,342                          | 6,76,77, 101                           |
| 22     | MANIPUR                            | 1 ,86,866                              | 19.23,346                              | 21.10,212                              |
| 23     | MEGHALA YA                         | 2,89, 1 38                             | 18,44,9 11                             | 2 1 ,34,049                            |
| 24     | MIZORANI                           | 63,585                                 | 6,5 1 ,026                             | 7,14,611                               |
| 25     | NAGALAN D                          | 1 ,29,7 1 8                            | 10,02,634                              | 11,32,352                              |
| 26     | ODISHA                             | 34,27,028                              | 2,89,38,48 1                           | 3 ,23,65,509                           |
| 27     | PUDUCHERRY                         | 77,09 1                                | 6,27,023                               | 7,04, 1 14                             |
| 28     | PUNJAB                             | 3,23,3 1 8                             | 1 ,50,02,924                           | 1 ,53,26,242                           |
| 29     | RAJASTHAN                          | 19,23 ,705                             | 4,22,59,086                            | 4,4 1 ,82,79 1                         |
| 30     | SIKKIN{                            | 57,847                                 | 3, 18,73 1                             | 3,76,578                               |
| 31     | TAMIL NADU                         | 62,63,32 1                             | 3,0 1 ,97,875                          | 3.64,6 1 . 1 96                        |
| 32     | TELANGAN A                         | 15,66,3 1 1                            | 1 ,75,98,796                           | 1 ,91 ,65, 107                         |
| 33     | TRIPURA                            | 4,34,895                               | 19,03, 186                             | 23,38,08 1                             |
| 34     | UTTARAKIIAND                       | 6,69,3 1 2                             | 53,50,952                              | 60,20,264                              |
| 35     | UTTAR PRADESH                      | 1 ,27,96,790                           | 13,29,40,072                           | 14.57,36,862                           |
| 36     | WEST BENGAL                        | 52,90,8 1 7                            | 5 ,46,89,849                           | 5.99,80,666                            |
|        | Total                              | 7,79,77,5 1 6                          | 71,86,37,820                           | 79,66,15,336                           |

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO  IN PART (D) OF THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5349 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 25,03,2026  REGARDING 66NFSA99,

Statement indication District wise number of beneficiaries  covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013

| S. No.   |                     | Beneficiary Count (As on 23.03_2026)   | Beneficiary Count (As on 23.03_2026)   | Beneficiary Count (As on 23.03_2026)   |
|----------|---------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| S. No.   |                     | AA\'                                   | PrI H                                  | Total                                  |
|          | ARARIA              | 2, 1 5,229                             | 24,40,075                              | _26,55,304_                            |
| 2        | ARWAL               | 74,236                                 | 3,82,025                               | 4,56,261                               |
| 3        | AURANGABAD          | 2, 19,321                              | 15,72.73 1                             | 17,92,052                              |
| 4        | BANKA               | 1 ,10,634                              | 17, 10,211                             | . 1 8,20,845_                          |
| 5        | BEGUSARAI           | 2,47,728                               | 23,47,9 1 8                            | 25,95.646                              |
| 6        | BHAGALPUR           | 1 ,90,877                              | 23,26,844                              | 25, 1 7,72 1                           |
| 7        | BHOJPUR             | 2,00, 130                              | 18,47,74 1                             | 20,47,87 1                             |
| 8        | BUXAR               | 1 ,07,089                              | 10,51 , 193                            | I1 ,58,282_                            |
| 9        | DARBHANGA           | 2.96,489                               | 33,27,823                              | 36,24,3 1 2                            |
| 10       | GA YA               | 3,04,922                               | 27,69,272                              | 30,74, 194                             |
| 11       | GOPALGANJ           | 2,27,78 1                              | 16,32,42 1                             | 18,60,202                              |
| 12       | JAMUI               | 1 ,43 ,203                             | 13,98,904                              | 15,42, 107                             |
| 13       | JEHANABAD           | 73,928                                 | 7,1 1,716                              | 7,85,644                               |
| 14       | KAIMIUR (BHABUA)    | 1 ,59,879                              | 10,77,8 13                             | 12,37,692                              |
| 15       | KATIHAR             | 1 ,72,427                              | 28,45,22 1                             | 30, 1 7,648                            |
| 16       | KHAGARI A           | 1 ,5 1,896                             | 13,58,506                              | 15, 10,402                             |
| 17       | KISHANGANJ          | 1 ,84,985                              | 14,30,577                              | 16, 1 5,562                            |
| 18       | LAKHISARAI          | 62,995                                 | 8, 10,412                              | 8,73,407                               |
| 19       | MADI{EPURA          | 1 ,25,923                              | 15,68,568                              | 16,94,491                              |
| 20       | MADHUBANI           | 4,75, 147                              | 32,48, 107                             | 37,23 ,254                             |
| 21       | MUNGER              | 1 ,38,680                              | 8,79,562                               | 10, 1 8,242                            |
| 22       | MUZAFFARPUR         | 4,43,792                               | 38,09,476                              | 42,53,268                              |
| 23       | N ALANDA            | 2,84,2 1 6                             | 20,73,852                              | 23,58,068                              |
| 24       | NAWADA              | 1 ,40,987                              | 16,04,748                              | 17,45,735                              |
| 25       | PASHCHIM CHAN4PARAN | 4,02,974                               | 29,28,947                              | 33,3 1 ,92 1                           |
| 26       | PATNA               | 3,41 ,619                              | 36,46,569                              | 39,88, 188                             |
| 27       | PURB[ CHAMPARAN     | 4,87,690                               | 38,47,374                              | 43,35 ,064                             |
| 28       | PURNIA              | 2,04,20 1                              | 26.52,960                              | 28,57,161                              |
| 29       | ROHTAS              | 1 ,84,085                              | 17,75,699                              | 19,59,784                              |
| 30       | SAHARSA             | 1 , 1 7,600                            | 16,69,400                              | 17,87,000                              |
| 31       | SAMASTIPUR          | 3,9 1 ,479                             | 34,41 ,030                             | 38,32,509                              |
| 32       | SARAN               | 3 ,70,202                              | 23,89,0 14                             | 27,59,21 6                             |
| 33       | SHEIKHPURA          | 41 , 154                               | 4,73,918                               | 5, 15,072                              |
| 34       | SHEOHAR             | 42,967                                 | 5,28,926                               | 5,7 1 ,893                             |
| 35       | SITAMARHI           | 2,57,004                               | 25,60,499                              | 28, 1 7,503                            |
| 36       | SIWAN               | 2,23,060                               | 25,5 1 ,362                            | 27,74,422                              |
| 37       | SUPAUL              | 1 ,60.201                              | 18,99,526                              | 20,59,727                              |
| 38       | VAISl{ALI           | 3 ,23,513                              | 25,33,659                              | 28,57, 172                             |
| Total    |                     | 83,00,2+3                              | 7,71 ,24,599                           | 8,54,24,8+2                            |