Lok Sabha Question No. 731 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-04
Subject: Foodgrains Provided under PMGKAY
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Smt. Delkar Kalaben Mohanbhai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 73 1

TO BE ANSWERED ON 4Tll FEBRUARY, 2026

## FOODGRAINS PROVIDED UNDER PMGKAY

## t'731. SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:

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

- (a): the names of  foodgrains being provided under the Pradhan Mantri  Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)  in the various States/Union Territories of the country;
- (b): the steps taken to strengthen nutritional  security  through the said scheme;
- (C): the details of  provisions  made for  women and children under the said scheme;
- (d): the measures available to the beneficiaries in case they do not receive foodgrains as per their entitled quota; and
- (e): the details of  the said scheme  in the Union  Territory  ofDadra  and Nagar Haveli?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): Under Pradhan Mantri  Garib Kalyan  Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), free of  cost foodgrains are being distributed to eligible  beneficiaries. 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.
- (b): in  order to improve  the level of nutrition  among the targeted beneficiaries, an advisory has also been issued to all  the States/UTs to procure millets  and distribute them to  beneficiaries as per local consumption preferences and as per guidelines issued by the Central Government from time to time
- (c): The National Food Security Act,  2013 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.

Pregnant women and lactating mothers are further entitled to receive cash maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000 to partly  compensate  for the wage loss during the period of pregnancy and also to supplement  nutrition.

- (d): Section 8 of  the Act,  provides  that in  case of non- supply of  the entitled quantities of foodgrains to  entitled persons, such persons shall  be entitled to  receive such food  security allowance in cash from  the concerned State Government, within  such time and manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government. In  this regard, Government of  India notified  Food Security Allowance  Rule, 2015 on 21.01.2015.
- (e): The PMIGKAY is being successfully implemented in  all  States/UTs including UT  of DNH&DD.

In  urban areas of  Dadra &  Nagar Haveli,  PMGKAY is being implemented in Direct  Cash Transfer mode as per the provisions  of  Cash Transfer of  Food Subsidy Rule, 2015 under which cash equivalent of  subsidy is  being transferred directly  into  the  Bank accounts of  eligible households to enable them to purchase foodgrains  from  open market.

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