Lok Sabha Question No. 4143 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Beneficiaries under PMGKAY
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Ashok Kumar Rawat

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4143

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18TH MARCH, 2026

## BENEFICIARIES UNDER PMGKAY

## t4143.  SHRI ASHOKKUMAR RAWAT:

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

- (a): the details of the total number of beneficiaries currently  covered under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yoj ana (PMGKAY);
- (b) : whether any assessment has been made regarding  reduction  in these numbers and if  so, the details thereoe
- (C): the total expenditure incurred under PMGKAY  scheme so far;
- (d): whether the Government proposes to extend the duration of the said scheme; and
- (e): if  so, the details thereof and if  not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIM ATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

(a) &  (b):  The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)  provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural and upto 50% of the urban population for receiving free of cost foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution  System (TPDS), which at Census 2011 comes to about 81.35 crore. Coverage under the PMGKAY  is substantially high to ensure that all the vulnerable and needy sections of the society get its benefit.

At present, against the intended coverage of 81.35 crore, the States/UTs have identified  79.40 crore person,  which  is about 97 .60% of the intended coverage i.e. 81.35 crore persons. Still, there is a scope of identification  of  1  .95 crore more beneficiaries under the PM(IKAY.

The Central Government has issued advisories to all  the States/Union Territories from  time to time to identify all eligible and poor persons/ households including vulnerable Sections of the Society for inclusion under the NFS A.  States undertake updation of their beneficiary database so that ineligible  ration cards get deleted and better targeting of rightful  beneficiaries  is ensured. Thus, deletion of ineligible beneficiaries and addition of eligible beneficiaries under the Act is a continuous process

- (c): The total food subsidy released by Department of Food and Public Distribution  (DFPD) under Pradhan Mantri  Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)  from the FY  2020-21 to till  date (as on 12.03.2026) are as under:

| Financial Year   | Amount (in crore)   |
|------------------|---------------------|
| 2020-21          | 541126,77           |
| 2021 -22         | 288718.54           |
| 2022-23          | 272501.69           |
| 2023-24          | 211394.39           |
| 2024-25          | 199499.67           |
| 2025-268         | 192535.13           |

From April,  2020 to  December 2022 under Pradhan Mantri  Garib Kalyaan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), 5Kg per person per month free of cost food grain was additionally distributed to all AAY  and PHH beneficiaries.

In  addition, funds are  also  released  to  States/UTs under  the  centrally sponsored  scheme 'Assistance to  state agencies for  intra  state movement of  foodgrains &  FPS Dealers margin under NFS A'  for meeting the expenditure incurred by  States/UTs for meeting expenditure on intra-state movement and handling of  foodgrains and Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers' margin for foodgrains distributed to beneficiaries under the Act.  The details of funds released to States/UTs from FY 202021 to as on 12.03.2026 are as under: -

| Financial Year   |   Fundreleased (in crore) |
|------------------|---------------------------|
| 2020-2 1         |                   6482.54 |
| 2021 -22         |                   6000    |
| 2022-23          |                   8572.03 |
| 2023-24          |                   8704.46 |
| 2024-25          |                   6945.39 |
| 2025-26#         |                   4595.68 |

(d) &  (e): The Central Government, in order to remove  the financial burden of the poor beneficiaries and to ensure nationwide uniformity  had distributed food grains free of  cost to beneficiaries i.e. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)  households and Priority Households (PHH) beneficiaries,  for  a period of one year beginning from  lst  January 2023 under the Pradhan Mantri  Grib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).  The period for distribution of free of cost foodgrains has been extended for further five  years i.e. from  lst  January, 2024, with  an estimated financial  outlay  of Rs. 11.80 lakh crore totally to be borne by Central Government.  At present, no proposal for extension ofPMGKAY beyond 3 1 December 2028 is under consideration of the Government.