What Are The Top Food Security Schemes in India?

Komal Bajpai

Author

Updated: 16-04-2025 at 1:01 PM

The huge, diverse population of India currently faces two significant challenges to obtain sufficient food and adequate nutrition. The government established multiple food security schemes to reach different sectors in the nation. The initiatives work toward two main objectives, which combine hunger relief efforts with programmes for health development alongside educational support and economic independence to financially disadvantaged communities.

In this article, you will get detailed information about the top food security schemes in India, their names, eligibility, application process and much more.

Overview

The following table showcases the key insights of the Top food security schemes in India, including their names, target beneficiaries and benefits:-

Scheme	Target Beneficiaries	Key Benefits
National Food Security Act (NFSA)	Priority Households & Antyodaya Anna Yojana families	Legal entitlement to subsidised food grains
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana	NFSA beneficiaries	Additional free food grains during emergencies
PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal Scheme)	School-going children	Nutritious meals to enhance learning and health
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)	Poorest of the poor households	35 kg of food grains per family per month at highly subsidised rates
Public Distribution System (PDS)	All ration card holders	Distribution of essential commodities at subsidised prices

What Are The Food Security Schemes In India?

The Government of India operates different food security schemes which prioritise the provision of proper nutrition and safety, coupled with sufficient food to all population segments, especially those facing sectional vulnerabilities. These national programmes create a protective network for numerous people across the country by solving problems related to hunger and malnutrition and helping people afford adequate food.

What Is The Need For Food Security Schemes In India?

Despite rapid economic growth, it is unfortunate but important to note that India is still fighting against high percentages of poverty and malnourishment on its land. Regional economic inequality as well as climate aspects, and income distribution patterns all serve to intensify food shortages in India. The following points display the needs of such schemes in India:

The goal is to eliminate hunger by protecting needy people from food deprivation because of budget limitations.
The provision of balanced diets should be implemented to tackle health problems specifically affecting children and women.
Automatic food programmes should serve as incentives to make children attend school regularly.
The support of economic stability emerges from lowering financial stresses placed on families who earn less money.

Also Read: PM Formalisation Of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme.

List Of Top Food Security Schemes In India

The following food security schemes form a comprehensive safety net for millions of Indians. They not only combat hunger but also address nutrition, education, and socio-economic inclusion, reflecting the government’s ongoing commitment to building a healthier and more equitable society. Let’s have a look at them one by one:-

The National Food Security Act (NFSA)

The National Food Security Act (NFSA) was passed into law in 2013. Legally, under this act, approximately two-thirds of Indians qualify to obtain subsidised food grains through the Public Distribution System. Under NFSA, both priority and Antyodaya Anna Yojana households come under different benefits for food grain programmes.

AAY households are considered the poorest among the poor, and they receive 35 kgs per month, but priority households are only given 5 kgs per month. The implementation of this act transformed India's hunger prevention programme specifically for the targeted rural population and marginalised social groups.

Scheme Name	National Food Security Act (NFSA)
Eligibility	Priority Households and AAY families as per SECC data
How to Apply	Visit the local PDS office or apply via the state food and civil supplies portal.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)

During the lockdown and economic slowdown brought on by COVID-19, the government implemented this scheme to provide complementary food grains without charges to all beneficiaries from the NFSA.

Under this scheme, every beneficiary who was receiving food through NFSA received an added monthly allowance of 5 kg of rice and wheat. PMGKAY kept receiving continuous extensions because of continuous needs, and it has evolved into a reference point for how the government should respond to emergencies.

Scheme Name	Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
Eligibility	All NFSA beneficiaries with ration cards (AAY + PHH)
How to Apply	No separate application needed; beneficiaries covered under NFSA.

PM Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme

The PM POSHAN Scheme, formerly operated as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, exists to increase nutritional outcomes of children enrolled in schools. Cooked meals through this scheme exist in government and government-aided schools to support children from the first to eighth grades.

This programme combats classroom hunger and enhances both student school-attendance rates and their ability to stay enrolled, especially for children who are from economically disadvantaged sections. Pre-primary students have been added to the PM POSHAN scheme through its revision, while the dietary focus shifts toward local food sources and fortified nutritional products.

Scheme Name	PM POSHAN (formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme)
Eligibility	School children in classes 1–8 in government and government-aided schools
How to Apply	No application required; automatically implemented through schools.

The Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)

The Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) stands out because it provides specially targeted food support to households in the most vulnerable situation. The scheme started in 2000 as a food protection mechanism with monthly distributions totaling 35 kilogrammes of rice or wheat at deeply discounted prices amounting to ₹3 for rice and ₹2 for wheat.

The scheme extends its benefits to the poorest families who typically get lost in other social welfare programmes by enabling this group to secure their basic nutritional requirements regularly.

Scheme Name	Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
Eligibility	Poorest households identified by state governments
How to Apply	Apply via the nearest ration office or the state’s Food & Civil Supplies Department.

Public Distribution System

The government administers this supply chain system to distribute subsidised rice, wheat, sugar and kerosene to ration card holders across the entire nation. The PDS functions through numerous fair price shops backed by digital innovations of e-ration cards and biometric verification to achieve transparency and block leakages throughout its nationwide network.

Scheme Name	Public Distribution System (PDS)
Eligibility	BPL, AAY, and PHH cardholders
How to Apply	Apply for a ration card via your local PDS office or state portal.

Also Read: FSSAI To Address Microplastic Contamination In Indian Food Products.

What Are Government Actions On Price Stability And Affordability?

The Indian government performs multiple initiatives simultaneously to guarantee food price stability, together with affordability.

The Reserve Bank of India controls inflation through its adjustments to repo rates as part of its monetary policy operations.
Buffer Stocks refer to holding sizable strategic reserves of fundamental commodities for controlling supply-demand dynamics.
Control of domestic prices occurs through the implementation and removal of export-import regulations. The abolition of 20% onion export taxes served to stabilise Indian market onion prices.
The government increases agricultural budget allocations alongside agricultural production support to decrease agricultural imports.

Conclusion

India secures its dedication to eliminating hunger and malnutrition by adopting various approaches for food security. The nation advances towards nutritional equality for every resident by adopting and upgrading these nutrition-based schemes. You should contact your regional Food and Civil Supplies Department or access official government portals for applying because these benefits will provide food security to your family or someone else who meets the criteria.

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