AreaIndia

Commodity GroupGrains

CommodityAll

Date01/03/2013

Policy CategoryConsumption and marketing

Policy InstrumentFood subsidies

DescriptionA revised version of the National Food Security Act approved by the Indian Cabinet. The revised bill envisages granting legal entitlement of 5 kilograms of grains per person per month to the general population, with more vulnerable families receiving a monthly ration of 35 kilos of foodgrains per household. For the first three years of implementation of the scheme, the rations would be made available at subsidized prices of Rupees 3 (USD 0.05) per kilo of rice, Rupees 2 in the case of a kilo of wheat (USD 0.04) and Rupees 1(USD 0.02) per kilo of millet. The scheme is expected to cover up to 75 percent of the rural population and 50 percent of urban dwellers, when enacted.