Government Schemes in News: April 2021 Current Affair | Additional Study Material for UPSC PDF Download

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10.	GOVERNMENT	SCHEMES	IN	NEWS	
10.1.	PRADHAN	MANTRI	GARIB	KALYAN	ANN	YOJANA	(PMGKAY)	3.0	
Why in News? 
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) has been reintroduced for two months (May and June) to 
ameliorate the hardships faced by the poor and needy due to various disruptions caused by the resurgence of 
COVID-19 in the country. 
Objective Key Features 
• It was 
launched 
to supply 
free food 
grains to 
migrants 
and poor 
who faced 
hardship 
on the 
account of 
economic 
disruption 
caused by 
COVID-19 
and 
Lockdown. 
• PMGKAY was launched as a part of Atmanirbhar Bharat. 
o First phase of the PMGKAY was from April to June 
2020 and second Phase was from July to November, 
2020 
• Under PMGKAY, 5 kg free wheat/rice per month is 
provided via ration shops to 80 crore beneficiaries 
registered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). 
• Additional grains given for free under PMGKAY to NFSA 
beneficiaries is over and above the existing monthly 
entitlement. 
o NFSA beneficiaries covered under two categories of 
NFSA, namely Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and 
Priority Householders (PHH) 
o Foodgrains under NFSA were to be made available at 
subsidized prices of Rs.3/2/1 per kg for rice, wheat 
and coarse grains respectively. 
• The cost of free food grains distribution under the 
scheme is entirely being borne by the central 
government. 
• Significance: Help to meet food security needs of those 
who have suffered job losses on account of the lockdown forced upon the country by COVID-19 and 
prevent potential food riots across the country. 
• The scale of the scheme makes it the biggest food security program in the world