AreaIndia

Commodity GroupRice

CommodityAll

Date01/07/2013

Policy CategoryConsumption and marketing

Policy InstrumentFood subsidies

DescriptionApproved the National Food Security Bill through an executive order. Parliamentary approval is still required for the ordinance to become law and it is expected to require six months to be implemented, following the identification of eligible households by States and Union Territories. The ordinance will grant legal entitlement of 5 kg of grains per person per month to the general population at highly subsidized prices, with more vulnerable families receiving a monthly ration of 35 kg of foodgrains per household. Up to 75 percent of the rural population and 50 percent of urban dwellers are expected to be covered under the scheme. Grain requirements for its implementation have been placed at 61.23 million tonnes per year and overall costs at Rupees 1.25 trillion (USD 21 billion).