Lok Sabha Question No. 1622 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Nutritional Diversification Under PMGKAY
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Dulu Mahato, Shri Nalin Soren, Dr. K Sudhakar, Shri P P Chaudhary, Shri Naba Charan Majhi, Shri Alok Sharma, Shri Khagen Murmu, Smt. Smita Uday Wagh, Dr. Rajesh Mishra

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1622

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10TH DECEMBER, 2025

## NUTRITIONAL  DIVERSIFICATION UNDER PMGKAY

1622. DR. K SUDHAKAR: DR. RAJESH MISHRA: SHRI DULU MA[IATO : SMT. SMITA UDAY WAGH: SHRI P P CHAUDHARY: SHRI KHAGEN MURMU: SHRI ALOK SHARMA: SHRI NAB A CHARAN MAJHI: SHRI NALIN  SOREN:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to include pulses, coarse grains and other nutritious food items in the grain basket under the Pradhan Mantri  Garib Kalyan Anna Yoj ana (PMGKAY);
- (b) whether fortified  rice  (or  other fortified  cereals) are being supplied under the  said scheme across various States including Jharkhand;
- (C) if  so, the status thereof across  various States/UTs;
- (d) whether the Government has conducted or  proposes to  conduct any study to  evaluate the nutritional adequacy of the current grain basket;
- (e) if  not, the reasons behind non strengthening of the nutritional dimension;
- (f) whether  any  proposals are  under  consideration to  strengthen PMGKAYs  nutritional dimension in future phases and if  so, the details thereof; and
- (g) the details/status of implementation  of the said scheme in  Sidhi  Lok  Sabha Constituency?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

(a): The  Public Distribution System  is  now  governed as  per  the  provisions of  the  Pradhan Mantri  Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). Under the NFS A, the term 'foodgrains'  is defined as rice, wheat or coarse grains or any combination thereof conforming to such quality norms as may be determined, by order, by the Central Government from time to time.

At  present, no  proposal for  inclusion of  more  commodities  under the  scheme is  under consideration of the Government

(b) &  (c): The Government of India is supplying fortified  rice under 'Rice Fortification  Initiative' through Pradhan  Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna  Yojana (PMGKAY) and  Other  Welfare Schemes (C)WS) in all  States and Union  Territories  (UTs)  including  Jharkhand.  Since Rajasthan,  Haryana and Punjab are wheat-consuming states; and Chandigarh,  Puducherry are 100% DBT UTs, the fortified  rice is not distributed  in  these States/UTs  under the Public Distribution  System (PDS). In October 2024, the Cabinet approved the continuation of this initiative across the country as the Central Sector Initiative  (fully  funded by the Government) up to December  2028.

(d) to (f): The National Food Security Act, 2013 provides food and nutritional security in human life  cycle approach,  by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality  food free of cost to people to live  a life  with  dignity.  The Act  provides that pregnant  women and lactating mothers and children in  the age group of  6 months to  14 years are entitled to meals as per prescribed nutritional  norms under  Integrated Child  Development Services (ICDS)  and  PM-POSHAN schemes. Higher nutritional  norms are prescribed for malnourished children upto 6 years of age.

Further, in order to improve the nutritional standards  in targeted  beneficiaries, the Government has revised the nutritional  norms specified in Schedule-II of the Act,  vide notification dated 25.01.2023  .

(g): The Pradhan Mantri  Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)  is being implemented in all the States/UTs including  Sidhi Parliamentary Constituency in the State of  Madhya Pradesh.

SeSeRSc +c +e