Free food grain beneficiaries (NFSA + PMGKAY)

National Food Security Act (NFSA, 2013) covers 67 crore beneficiaries with subsidised food grain (₹1–3/kg). PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) launched April 2020 during COVID provided 5 kg free grain per person monthly; extended through 2024 and merged into NFSA from Jan 2024 making food grain free for 80 crore beneficiaries. Total annual grain distribution: ~600 lakh MT. FCI procurement and distribution logistics remain significant cost centres; leakage (ghost beneficiaries) has declined with Aadhaar-seeding from ~47% to ~12% of allocations.