PMGKAY: Central Govt. Issues Clarification, Says No Free Ration To Be Distributed After THIS Date

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna: The government currently has no plans to extend the time duration for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, after it ends on November 30.

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Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna: Free ration under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) would only be available until November 30. As of now, the government has no plans to extend the term of the scheme beyond its current deadline on November 30. According to Union Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey, "In view of economical improvement and growith in sale of food grains in the open market under the OMSS Policy (Open Market Sale Scheme Policy), it is proposed not to extend free ration distribution through PMGKAY (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna) beyond its current deadline of November 30. 

In view of the economic shock caused due to the first wave of COVID-19 in March 2020, the Central Government had launched PMGKAY (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana) to provide free food grains to Indians. Although the scheme was initially introduced for the period between April and June 2020 but was later extended to November 30, 2020. However, after the second wave of COVID-19 hit the nation this year, the plan was again extended until May and June of this year. However, the Central Government later decided to extend the scheme for another five months, that is July to November 2021. 

However, the government has said that the economy is now recovering and the sale of food grains under the Open Market Sales Scheme (OMSS) have also improved this year.  In such a scenario, the extension of PMGKAY (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna) is not recommended. Under the OMSS scheme, the government is anyways giving rice and wheat to wholesale consumers under the OMSS policy (Open Market Sale Scheme Policy), in an attempt to improve supply and control prices. 

Under the PMGKAY, the Central Government has been supplying 5kg of free ration to 80 crore ration card holders under the National Food Security Act.  The free ration has been provided in addition to subsidized food grains from ration shops.