🍚 Food Security · Ministry of Food · Updated January 2025
PM Garib Kalyan Yojana Free 5 Kg Ration Every Month for 81 Crore Indians
The world's largest free food programme. Under the merged PMGKAY and NFSA scheme, 81.35 crore people receive 5 kg of free rice or wheat every month — no cost, just your ration card.
81 Cr
Beneficiaries receiving free ration
5 Kg
Free grain per person per month
₹0
Cost to beneficiary (fully free since 2023)
Dec 2028
Scheme extended through December 2028
🍚
PMGKAY Merged with NFSA — Free Ration Extended to December 2028 From January 1, 2023, the PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana was merged with the National Food Security Act (NFSA). All NFSA cardholders (AAY and Priority Household) now receive their full entitlement of 5 kg per person per month completely FREE — no payment required. This free status is guaranteed until December 2028.
📖 Overview
What Is PM Garib Kalyan Yojana — And What Changed in 2023
PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) was originally launched in March 2020 as a COVID-19 emergency food relief programme — providing additional free grain over and above the subsidised NFSA entitlement. During COVID, it distributed an extra 5 kg per person per month on top of the regular ration, helping families cope with income loss during lockdowns.
In a landmark decision on December 23, 2022, the government announced that from January 1, 2023, the PMGKAY free grain component would be merged into the regular NFSA entitlement. This means all 81.35 crore NFSA cardholders now receive their 5 kg per person per month completely free — no payment, not even the earlier subsidised rate of ₹2–3 per kg for wheat and rice.
The scheme has been extended through December 2028, giving five years of guaranteed free food security to the poorest Indians — the longest such commitment in India's history. The government bears the full cost, estimated at approximately ₹2 lakh crore per year.
💡 Ration Shop Is Collecting Money? That Is Illegal.Since January 2023, all NFSA beneficiaries are entitled to their 5 kg per person completely free. If your ration shop dealer collects any money for grain, they are committing fraud. Report immediately to your state's Food and Civil Supplies department helpline or to the National Consumer Helpline 1800-11-4000.
✅ Eligibility
Who Gets Free Ration — Ration Card Categories Explained
Card Type
Who Holds It
Entitlement
Price
AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana)
Poorest of the poor — identified by state governments
35 kg per household per month
FREE (since Jan 2023)
Priority Household (PHH)
NFSA-covered BPL families — most common card
5 kg per person per month
FREE (since Jan 2023)
State BPL
State-defined below poverty line — not under NFSA
Varies by state
Subsidised (state-determined)
APL (Above Poverty Line)
Households not in BPL — may get some grain at market price
Varies by state, limited
Near-market price
Who Is NOT Covered and Should Apply for Ration Card
Families without any ration card are excluded from PMGKAY. If your household has no ration card and your annual income is below ₹1 lakh (rural) or ₹1.5 lakh (urban), apply for a new ration card at your state's Food and Civil Supplies office or online via your state government portal. You will be issued a Priority Household card after verification, giving you free grain entitlement.
🔍 How to Check and Claim
How to Check Your Ration Entitlement and Claim It — Step by Step
1
Check Your Ration Card Details OnlineVisit the National Food Security Portal at nfsa.gov.in. Enter your ration card number or Aadhaar to see your household's entitlement, transactions, and last pickup record.
2
Visit Your Ration Shop (PDS Outlet)Visit your designated Fair Price Shop (ration shop) any time during the month. Bring your ration card or Aadhaar card. The shop has an electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) machine for Aadhaar-based biometric verification.
3
Biometric AuthenticationPlace your finger on the biometric machine or use iris scan. The machine verifies your Aadhaar and confirms your entitlement in real-time. Grain is dispensed after successful authentication.
4
One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC)If you have migrated to another state, you can collect your ration at any PDS outlet in India using your Aadhaar — regardless of which state issued your ration card. This ONORC facility is active in all 36 states/UTs.
⚠️ Aadhaar Must Be Linked to Ration Card: Without Aadhaar-ration card linking, biometric authentication at the PDS shop won't work. Get your Aadhaar linked at the ration shop itself or at any CSC. This is free and takes 5 minutes.
❓ FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions — Verified 2025
First, check nfsa.gov.in to see if your name is active in the system. If active but grain is denied, call your state's food department helpline. National Consumer Helpline: 1800-11-4000. You can also file an RTI to your state's food department to get data on grain allocation vs actual distribution at your shop. Ration dealer diversion is a punishable offense — report it without fear.
Yes — this is exactly what One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) is for. A construction worker from Bihar working in Delhi can collect their ration from any Delhi PDS shop using their Aadhaar biometric verification. No transfer of ration card is needed. Their family back home can also continue collecting from the home state simultaneously — each member collects their share independently.
Apply at your state's Food and Civil Supplies department office (in person) or via your state government's online portal. Required documents: Aadhaar of all family members, proof of income (or income affidavit for informal workers), address proof, and passport-size photos. Processing takes 30–60 days. In states with online portals, you can track your application status. Contact your local MLA or ward councillor if application is stuck for more than 60 days — this is a political priority scheme.
Apply for This Scheme Today
Visit the official government portal. Completely free — no payment to any agent or middleman at any step.
Disclaimer: MeraHaq is an independent citizen information platform. Not affiliated with any government department. All information sourced from official .gov.in portals. Last verified: January 2025.