Securing Every Plate

Securing Every Plate

Introduction

Food security is ensuring that all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Achieving this requires not only adequate production of food but also its equitable distribution.

To strengthen production, the Government launched the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in 2007–08. Its objectives were toincrease the production of rice, wheat and pulses through area expansion and productivity enhancement,restoring soil fertility and productivity, creating employment opportunities andenhancing farm level economy. In 2014–15, NFSM was expanded to include coarse cereals, continuing its focus on productivity, soil health, and farmer income. In 2024–25, it was renamed the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), with a dual emphasis on food production and nutrition. Under NFSNM, States and Union Territories provide farmers with support such as crop production and protection technologies, cropping system based demonstrations, production & distribution of certified seeds of newly released varieties/hybrids, integrated nutrient and pest management techniques, capacity building of farmers through trainings during cropping season etc.

While NFSM/NFSNM ensures higher foodgrain production for the Central Pool, the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 guarantees their equitable distribution. NFSA legally entitles up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to subsidized (presently free of cost) food grains through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), ensuring that vulnerable households receive adequate food and nutrition.

Together, NFSM/NFSNM and NFSA form the backbone of India’s food security framework, one driving production, the other ensuring distribution, thereby combining productivity gains with inclusive growth, sustainability, and nutritional security.

National Food Security Act and TPDS

The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, aims to supplement the food requirements of up to 75% of the rural and up to 50% of the urban population, which at Census 2011 comes to 81.35 crore persons.

While Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute poorest of

the poor are entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains, per household per month, Priority Households (PHH) are entitled to 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month at uniform subsidized prices specified in Schedule-I prices (presently free of cost) of the Act.

The Central Government had decided to provide food grains free of cost to AAY households and PHH beneficiaries, beginning from 1st January 2023 under the NFSA. The period for distribution of free foodgrains has been extended for five years from 1^stJanuary 2024, with an estimated financial outlay of Rs 11.80 lakh crore, fully funded by the Central Government.

As of October 2025, 78.90 crore beneficiaries are receiving free of cost foodgrains under the Act.

Under NFSA, the eligible households are entitled to receive foodgrains through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).

The Act provides food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity. The Act provides for coverage of up to 75% of the rural and up to 50% of the urban population, i.e. about two-thirds of the total population of the country, for receiving foodgrains i.e. rice/ wheat/ coarse grains at prices specified in Schedule-I of the Act. In addition to this, 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 up to 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. 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.

Role of the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)

To ensure that the benefits of the NFSA reach the intended population efficiently, the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), serves as the primary delivery mechanism for subsidized foodgrains. It operates through the joint responsibility of the Central and State/UT governments:

This framework ensures access to highly subsidized foodgrains for eligible households, particularly the poor and vulnerable, through the TPDS.

The Act recognizes two categories of households for entitlements:

 

The Central Government had decided to provide food grains free of cost to AAY households and PHH beneficiaries, beginning from 1st January 2023 under the NFSA. The period for distribution of free foodgrains has been extended for five years from 1^stJanuary 2024, with an estimated financial outlay of Rs 11.80 lakh crore, fully funded by the Central Government.

 

Who are the Beneficiaries?

Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) Households

 

Priority Households

 

Process of Identification of Beneficiaries under TDPS

Under the TPDS Control Order, 2015, the identification of NFSA beneficiaries is a continuous process led by State and Union Territory governments. This involves removing ineligible, fake, or duplicate ration cards to ensure that only rightful households receive benefits. By maintaining an updated beneficiary list and regulating the supply of foodgrains, the NFSA ensures that vulnerable and needy populations are effectively supported. This process also strengthens food security, helps stabilize market prices, and improves the targeting of eligible beneficiaries across the country.

Key Government initiatives Ensuring Food Security

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)

The PMGKAY was launched with the specific purpose of ameliorating the hardships faced by the poor and needy due to economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. The scheme was operational in seven phases. Phase VII of the PMGKAY was in operation up to 31.12.2022.

The Central Government, in order to remove the financial burden of the poor beneficiaries and to ensure nationwide uniformity and effective implementation of the programme for support of the poor, had decided to provide food grains free of cost to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH) beneficiaries, beginning from 1st January 2023 under the PMGKAY. The period for distribution of free of cost foodgrains has been extended for five years from 1st January, 2024, with an estimated financial outlay of Rs. 11.80 lakh crore totally to be borne by Central Government.

Rice Fortification Initiative

Ensuring food security and improving micronutrient intake for its people has always been a priority of the Government of India. The Department of Food & Public Distribution is committed to the cause and is putting efforts into improving the overall nutrition scenario.

 

Direct Beneficiary Transfer (DBT)

The National Food Security Act (NFSA) introduced several key reforms in the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), one such reform has been the implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for food entitlements. The government notified the ‘Cash Transfer of Food Subsidy Rule, 2015’ in August 2015, aiming to reduce the physical movement of food grains, provide beneficiaries with greater autonomy in food selection, enhance dietary diversity, minimize leakages, improve targeting, and promote financial inclusion.

Implementation of Cash Transfer Food Subsidy Rules, August, 2015

Implementation of Direct Cash Transfer in Food

 

Integrated Child Development Schemes

 

PM POSHAN (POshan SHAkti Nirman) Scheme

One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC)

The ONORC scheme, successfully implemented across all 36 States/UTs, empowers approximately 81 crore beneficiaries to lift their entitled food grains from any FPS in the country using their existing ration card/Aadhaar card with biometric authentication on an e-PoS device. ONORC is particularly beneficial for migrant labourers and prevents the duplication of ration cards. Since inception, around 191 Crore portability transactions (inter-State and intra-State) have been recorded as on October 2025.

Bottom of Form

Public Distribution System (PDS) and Open Market Sales Scheme (Domestic)

The Public Distribution System (PDS) evolved as a system of management of scarcity through distribution of foodgrains at affordable prices. Over the years, PDS has become an important part of Government’s policy for management of food economy in the country. Efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the PDS have been significantly enhanced through technology-driven reforms, resulting in 100% digitization of ration cards/beneficiary databases, 99.9% Aadhaar seeding of ration cards, and the automation of nearly 99.6% (5.41 Lakh out of 5.43 Lakh) Fair Price Shops (FPSs) using ePoS devices for transparent, biometric/Aadhaar-authenticated distribution of subsidized foodgrains. Furthermore, surplus food grains (Wheat & Rice) are sold through the Open Market Sales Scheme (Domestic) [OMSS(D)] to increase market availability, control inflation, and ensure affordability for the general public.

This helps to:

 

In addition, Bharat Atta and Bharat Rice were launched to provide wheat flour and rice to general consumers at subsidized rates under the Open Market Sale Scheme Domestic (OMSS-D) policy.

Procurement, Storage and Allocation of Food grains under NFSA

The procurement of wheat and rice is carried out by State Government agencies and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), ensuring that grains meet Fair Average Quality (FAQ) standards. These procured grains are stored in the Central Pool and distributed under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and other welfare schemes (OWS).

Before each marketing season, the Procurement takes place through two systems:

Both systems ensure adequate availability of foodgrains for public distribution while supporting farmers’ incomes.

To ensure food security and effective distribution across the country, the Government maintains a Central Pool of foodgrains that serves as the backbone of the Public Distribution System (PDS). As on 1^stJuly 2025, the central pool had 377.83 Lakh metric tonne (LMT) of rice and 358.78 LMT of wheat against stocking norms of 135.40 LMT and 275.80 LMT respectively. These stocks first meet annual allocations under NFSA/PMGKAY, Other Welfare Schemes, and additional needs for calamities or festivals. Surplus foodgrains are disposed of through the Open Market Sale Scheme-Domestic (OMSS-D), while humanitarian aid to deserving countries is provided as full grant via the Ministry of External Affairs.

The procurement of major food grains—paddy and wheat—under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism is a fundamental pillar supporting food security in India, primarily by ensuring physical availability and enhancing the stability and economic access for farmers and consumers. Up to October 13th, 2025, paddy procurement in KMS 2024-25 reached 813.88 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) valued at Rs. 1.9 lakh crore at MSP benefiting 1.15 crore farmers. In RMS 2024-25, 266.05 LMT of wheat was procured, valued at ₹60,526.80 crore, benefiting 22.49 lakh farmers. In RMS 2025-26 (up to 11.08.2025), 300.35 LMT of wheat was procured, valued at ₹72,834.15 crore, benefiting 25.13 lakh farmers.

To support the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and ensure timely delivery of foodgrains, total annual allocation of food grains under NFSA stood at 18,498.94 thousand tons as of July 2025 for FY 2025-26 and for FY 2024-25 it was 55,493.044 thousand tons.

Key Measures for Transparency and Efficiency in the Public Distribution System (PDS)

The Government has undertaken multiple interventions to enhance Public Distribution System (PDS) reforms: –

Digital Reforms in Public Distribution System (PDS)

Mera Ration 2.0: To enhance transparency and convenience for beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) launched the Mera Ration 2.0 mobile application on 20 August 2024. The upgraded app provides real-time information to beneficiaries on their entitlements, withdrawal details, and the location of the nearest Fair Price Shop (FPS), along with a suite of new value-added features for a seamless, user-friendly experience. More than 1 crore downloads have already been recorded.

The Anna Mitra mobile app: The app empowers Public Distribution System (PDS) field functionaries by providing secure access to critical operational data. It is designed to streamline field-level monitoring, stock management, and compliance reporting for Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers, Food Inspectors, and District Food Supply Officers (DFSOs).

Key Design Features of Anna Mitra:

Benefits:

Currently, the Anna Mitra app is operational in15 states— Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Nagaland, Goa, Jammu & Kashmir, Daman & Diu, Ladakh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Tripura —and is available in English and Hindi. Its rollout to other States and Union Territories is being implemented in a phased manner.

SMART-PDS

To further build on these reforms, the Government of India is set to launch the SMART-PDS (Scheme for Modernisation and Reforms through Technology in PDS) initiative, in phases by December 2025, which aims to strengthen the technological backbone of PDS and bring transformative change by focusing on four key modules:

1.Food grains procurement

2.Supply chain management and allocation of grains

3.Ration card and Fair Price Shop management

4.Biometric-based grain distribution Module (e-KYC).

Conclusion

India’s food security architecture is anchored in a dual strategy of strengthening agricultural production and ensuring equitable distribution. At the same time, the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, complemented by flagship programs like Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), the Decentralized Procurement Scheme (DCP), and the Open Market Sale Scheme – Domestic (OMSS-D), guarantees affordable and inclusive distribution to nearly 81 crore people ensuring that they receive affordable food grains, price stability is maintained, and vulnerable households are protected from hunger and malnutrition.

References

World Bank

https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/brief/food-security-update/what-is-food-security

Ministry of Food and Public Distribution

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