Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) – Indian Govt named its new free foodgrain scheme under the National Food Security Act, 2013, as ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)’ and has been implemented from January 1, 2023, benefitting more than 80 crores of poor and poorest of poor people.
- The name of the new scheme is similar to the scheme implemented as part of the Centre’s Covid-19 package announced in 2020.
- Almost 81 crore NFSA beneficiaries were entitled to get free of cost 5 kg of foodgrain per person in a month over and above their monthly entitlements.
- People had to pay the subsidized rate of foodgrains (Rs 3 per kg rice, Rs 2 per kg wheat, and Rs 1 per kg coarse grains) to purchase the quantity for which they were entitled–35 kg per Antyoday Anna Yojana Household and 5kg per person to a Priority Household in a month.