Salient Features of NFSA

• Public Distribution System (PDS) is now governed by provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).
• Coverage under PDS is de-linked from the erstwhile 'poverty estimates'.
• The Act provides coverage for nearly 2/3^rd of the country's total population, basis Census 2011 population estimates.
• 75% of Rural and 50% of Urban population is entitled to receive highly subsidised foodgrains under two categories of beneficiaries – Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH).
• State/UT-wise coverage is determined by the erstwhile Planning Commission (now NITI Ayog) on the basis of 2011-12 Household Consumption Expenditure survey of NSSO.
• The Act entitles 35 kg of foodgrains per AAY Household per month, whereas 5 Kg of foodgrain per PHH Person per month.
• Identification of beneficiaries/households under NFSA is done by respective State/UT Government, which is required to frame its own criteria.
• Highly subsidised Central Issue Prices of Re.1, Rs.2 and Rs.3 for Coarse-grains, Wheat and Rice respectively, kept unchanged till June 2019.
• No reduction in foodgrains allocation to any State/UT under NFSA. Allocation gaps if any, are covered with Tide-Over allocation
• Eldest woman of the beneficiary household (18 years or above) is considered as 'Head of Family' for the purpose of issuing ration cards.
• Grievance redressal mechanism, through State Food Commissions, DGROs, Vigilance Committees at different levels are provisioned for Women Empowerment.
• Provisions for disclosure of records relating to PDS operations, placing of beneficiaries' list in public domain/portals, for enhanced transparency
• Assistance to States/UTs for meeting expenditure on intra-State transportation & handling of foodgrains and FPS Dealers' margin