By Vivek Dubey
CNBC-TV18.com
Published Nov 29, 2023
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) has been extended for five more years until December 2028.
This move aims to continue providing free food grains to an estimated 80 crore impoverished individuals across India.
The scheme offered beneficiaries a monthly provision of five kilograms of food grains.
The scheme primarily caters to households falling under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH).
Households headed by individuals facing challenging circumstances are encompassed within its ambit.
Families of individuals living below the poverty line and affected by HIV also receive support through this program.
The extension of the PMGKAY initiative will impose a cost of ₹11.8 lakh crore on the exchequer.
This extension follows PM Modi’s assurance at an election rally in Chhattisgarh to prolong the free ration scheme.
Last year, the government decided to integrate the PMGKAY with the National Food Security Act (NFSA).