PM-GKAY
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
6.5/10The scheme provides free food grain through the Public Distribution System, to all the priority households (ration card holders and those identified by the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme) - Migrants and the Poor.
States / UT: All India
Ministry / nodal: Ministry Of Finance
Nodal department: Department Of Economic Affairs
Scheme for: Family
Scheme profile
DBT (direct benefit transfer): Yes
Scheme open date: 2020-03-26
Categories: Social welfare & Empowerment
Sub-categories: Food Security / Public Distribution System
Target beneficiaries: Individual, Family
Tags: Ration, Anna, Wheat, Rice, Food Grains
Details
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) is a scheme as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat to supply free food grains to migrants and poor.
Phase-I and Phase-II of this scheme were operational from April to June, 2020 and July to November, 2020 respectively. Phase III of the scheme was operational from May to June, 2021. Phase-IV of the scheme during July-November, 2021 and Phase V from December 2021 till March, 2022 .
Under this scheme, the center provides 5kg of free food grains per month to the poor. This is in addition to the subsidized (Rs 2-3 per kg) ration provided under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) to families covered under the Public Distribution System (PDS). The food grain and the amount may be variable.
Phase VI:
The PMGKAY scheme for Phase VI from April-September, 2022 would entail an estimated additional food subsidy of Rs. 80,000 Crore.
Note:
Check One Nation One Ration Card Scheme which provides an option to all eligible ration cardholders or beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 for accessing their entitlements from anywhere in India.
Benefits
- 1. PMGKAY provides 5 kg of food grain to each family holding a ration card free of cost and the 5 kg of subsidized food grain already offered through the Public Distribution System (PDS). 1. Wheat has been allocated to 6 States/UTs - Punjab Haryana
- Rajasthan
- Chandigarh Delhi and Gujarat and rice has been provided to the remaining States/UTs
- PMGKAY provides 5 kg of food grain to each family holding a ration card free of cost and the 5 kg of subsidized food grain already offered through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
- Wheat has been allocated to 6 States/UTs, - Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Gujarat, and rice has been provided to the remaining States/UTs.
Eligibility
- Families belonging to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) categories will be eligible for the scheme.1. PHH are to be identified by State Governments/Union Territory Administrations as per criteria evolved by them. AAY families are to be identified by States/UTs as per the criteria prescribed by the Central Government:1. Households headed by widows or terminally ill persons or disabled persons or persons aged 60 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support.
- Widows or terminally ill persons or disabled persons or persons aged 60 years or more or single women or single men with no family or societal support or assured means of subsistence.
- All primitive tribal households.
- Landless agriculture labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans/craftsmen such as potters, tanners, weavers, blacksmiths, carpenters, slum dwellers, and persons earning their livelihood on daily basis in the informal sector like porters, coolies, rickshaw pullers, hand cart pullers, fruit and flower sellers, snake charmers, rag pickers, cobblers, destitutes and other similar categories in both rural and urban areas.
- All eligible Below Poverty Line families of HIV positive persons
How useful is this scheme?
A practical look at this scheme for citizens
AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.
- Accessibility7.0
- Financial impact5.0
- Rural utility6.0
- Awareness8.5
- Simplicity4.5
- Inclusivity7.0
What problem does this scheme solve?
The scheme provides essential food support to vulnerable populations, particularly during crises.
Key challenges addressed
- Food insecurity among low-income families
- Support for migrants and the poor
Most beneficial for
- Low-income families
- Widows and elderly citizens
- Rural households
Likely challenges
- Awareness of eligibility criteria
- Access to Fair Price Shops in remote areas
Practical insights for citizens
Practical for those with ration cards but may exclude some eligible families.
Rural challenges
- Limited access to Fair Price Shops
- Transportation issues
Implementation bottlenecks
- Identification of eligible families
Awareness challenges
- Lack of information on the scheme
Application analysis
- Application mode
- Offline
- Documents burden
- Ration Card or Aadhaar number
- Verification complexity
- Moderate
- Office dependency
- Low
- DBT dependency
- None
- CSC support
- Limited
- Estimated citizen effort
- Low
Estimated beneficiary reach
Benefit analysis
- Benefit type
- In Kind
- Benefit frequency
- Monthly
- Benefit practicality
- High, as food grains are essential for survival
- Financial meaningfulness
- High, as it alleviates food costs
- Long-term impact
- Positive, as it supports food security
Plain-language guidance
This scheme gives free food grains to families with ration cards. It's designed to help the poor and migrants during tough times.
- Who should apply
- Families with ration cards, especially those identified as poor or vulnerable.
- Who may struggle
- Individuals without ration cards or those unaware of the scheme.
- Best application route
- Apply at the nearest Fair Price Shop with your Ration Card.
This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.
Application Process
Offline
Interested persons shall visit the nearest Fair Price Shop with the Ration Card:
- Beneficiaries can quote either their ration card number or the Aadhaar number to any Fair Price Shop dealer across the country.
- Beneficiaries can undergo Aadhaar authentication by using their fingerprints or iris-based identification.
Clarifications
Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).
- Who are eligible for the scheme?
This scheme can be availed by to all eligible ration cardholders or beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
- How do I know if I am NFSA Beneficiary?
You can check on https://nfsa.gov.in/portal/ration_card_state_portals_aad
- How Do I avail the Scheme? Is there any application process?
Interested person shall visit nearest Fair Price Shop with Ration Card
Definitions
- NFSA Beneficiary
- Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households
Official links
References
- Scheme Guidelines
- https://www.idfcinstitute.org/site/assets/files/15623/final_white_paper_pmgky-2-1.pdf
Apply
Apply nowOpens the official application or programme portal in a new tab. If in doubt, confirm details on the ministry site.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the purpose of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?
- Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana is a government welfare initiative designed to support Family, Individual, Family through benefits related to Social welfare & Empowerment, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
- Who can apply for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?
- Eligibility for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
- What benefits are offered under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?
- Benefits under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
- Which department manages Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?
- Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana is managed by Department Of Economic Affairs and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
- Can users apply online for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?
- Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
- Is Aadhaar mandatory for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?
- Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
- Where can users apply for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?
- Applications for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
- What documents may be required for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?
- Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
- Is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana a central government scheme?
- Yes, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
- Can CSC centres help users apply for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?
- Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
- How can users check the latest updates for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?
- Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
- Are there deadlines for applying to Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?
- Some schemes may operate through fixed application windows, annual registration cycles, or department-specific deadlines depending on scheme implementation policies.
- Can beneficiaries track application status for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?
- Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
- Where can users get help for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana in All India?
- Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
- Which nearby public services may help with Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana applications?
- Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.