• Last year, Government had announced PM-GKAY for all beneficiaries covered NFSA for the period April-November, 2020.
• Around 80 Crore NFSA beneficiaries were allocated an additional 5 kg of foodgrains, free of cost for a period of 8 months.
• In 2021, PM-GKAY was announced for a period of two months (May and June) with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 26,602 Crore.
• The entire cost of this additional allocation will be borne by Govt. of India.
• Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) is a scheme as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat to supply free food grains to migrants and the poor.

During the period May - November 2021, more than 81.35 crore people will be provided 5 kg free wheat/rice per person / month along with 1 kg free whole chana to each family per month. 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. This is over and above the regular monthly entitlements under National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).

Source: The Hindu, PIB