Ministry/Department : Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Aim is to ensure sufficient food for the poor and needy during the coronavirus crisis.
Scheme:
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Features: Under the scheme, about 80 Crore National Food Security Act(NFSA) beneficiaries are eligible for an additional quota of free-of-cost food grains (Rice/Wheat) at a scale of 5 Kg per person per month over and above their regular monthly entitlement.
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Duration:
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The scheme was announced in 2020 for three months till July. Later it was extended till November 2020 to combat the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the poor.
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Scheme is functional once again. Under this phase, around 80 crore beneficiaries would be covered for the months of May and June 2021.
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All expenses on the extended PMGKAY are to be borne by the Central Government.
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The new phase of the PMGKAY Scheme does not provide free-of-cost 1 kg pulses per month to each household covered under the NFSA. This one of the important components available in the earlier phase of the program.