The basic concept of food security globally is to ensure that all people, at all times, should get access to the basic food for their active and healthy life and is characterized by availability, access, utilization and stability of food. The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), provides for coverage of 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population for receiving foodgrains at highly subsidized prices of Rs.1/2/3 per kg for coarse grains/wheat/rice respectively. It came into force w.e.f. 5th July, 2013
The Act provides for State Food Commission (SFC) in every State/UT, for the purpose of monitoring and review of implementation of the Act
NFSA Programmes
NFSA relies on four existing programmes to provide food and nutritional security:
- Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): TPDS provides foodgrains to approximately 813.4 million Indians under NFSA
- Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): Nutritious meal, free of charge to pregnant women & lactating mothers and children up to6 years of age under ICDS
- Mid Day Meal (MDM) programme: the ICDS and MDM programmes ensure a free meal to all children aged six months to 14 years at the anganwadi (childcare centres) and schools
- Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY). Maternity benefits of Rs. 6000 to Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers
Provisions of National Food Security Act
- Every person belonging to a priority household is entitled to receive five kg of rice per person per month from TPDS
- A ll eligible households shall be entitled to foodgrains at subsidised prices not exceeding INR 3, 2 and 1 for rice, wheat and coarse grains, respectively, for the first three years since the commencement of the Act
- Coverage of two-thirds of the total population at the all India level, under two categories of beneficiaries – Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH)
- Foodgrains Entitlement: 5 kg per person for PHH category and 35 kg per household for AAY households
We hope you liked this article on National Food Security Act. Here are some useful articles for you to read next:
Download as PDF
Click to go to RBI Grade B Preparation Page