Free ration scheme to be extended for five more years: PM

• The Union government’s scheme to provide 5 kg of free food grains per month to 81 crore Indians will be extended for another five years.
• The free ration scheme, slated to end in December, 2023.

Background of the Scheme

• The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was introduced in 2020.

Features of PMGKAY

• It was
  • initiated as a pandemic relief measure.
  • providing 5 kg of free food grains per beneficiary per month
  • in addition to the 5 kg of subsidized food grain they were entitled to under the National Food Security Act.
• In December 2022, as PMGKAY came to an end after multiple extensions
• The Union Cabinet decided to make NFSA rations free for one year. i.e. December, 2023.
• Now, It has been extended for another five years in addition to this deadline.
• Its nodal Ministry is the Ministry of Finance.
• The benefit of the free ration can be availed through portability.
• It can be availed by any migrant labour or beneficiary under the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) .
• It is covered by the nearly 5 lakh ration shops across the country.

Prelims Takeaway

• One Nation One Ration Card
• Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana