Context: The Government of India has decided to provide a free ration to 81.35 crore poor people under the National Food Security Act(NFSA) for one year.

• The Union government would provide free food grains to beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013, as per their entitlement, for a year beginning January 2023.

• National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 - The persons belonging to eligible households received food grains at subsidised price under NFSA.

There are two categories of beneficiary households under the NFSA, 2013.

• Antyoday Anna Yojana (AAY): The AAY households are entitled to 35 kg of food grains per month irrespective of the number of family members.

• Priority Households: The priority households get food grains depending on the number of family members (each member 5 kg per month).

PMGKAY - The Union government has discontinued the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKY) was launched in April 2020 amid Covid-19.

• Under PMGKY 5 kg of free wheat and rice was provided free of cost to 80 crore poor per month.

• The free food grains were given on top of the NFSA entitlement of 5 kg food grains at subsidised rates.

• In September, the government had extended PMGKAY for three months till December 31.

• Merging - The government aims to subsume the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) under the NFSA Act.

• The free portion (5kg) of that scheme has been added to the NFSA (35 kg).