Major National Nutrition and Food Security Schemes

Introduction

India’s food security and nutrition architecture combines legal entitlements with welfare schemes for children, pregnant women and vulnerable households. Together, these programmes aim to reduce hunger, improve nutrition outcomes and ensure subsidised food grain access through the public distribution system.

For Prelims revision, the most important areas are entitlement rules, beneficiary coverage, funding pattern and recent administrative changes in key schemes.

National Food Security Act (NFSA) and PMGKAY

• National Food Security Act, 2013: It gives legal backing to food security and covers up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population.
• Beneficiary base: As of early 2026, about 80.56 crore persons were identified under the Act.
• PMGKAY extension: The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was extended for five years from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2028.
• Financial implication: The estimated expenditure for the extension period is ₹11.80 lakh crore.
• Coverage: PMGKAY covers around 81.35 crore beneficiaries under NFSA, including Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH).
• Entitlement under PMGKAY: AAY households receive 35 kg of free foodgrains per household per month, while PHH beneficiaries get 5 kg per person per month.

Draft National Food Security (Amendment) Bill, 2026

• Purpose: The draft amendment proposed changes in the AAY foodgrain distribution framework.
• Public consultation: It was proposed by the Department of Food and Public Distribution in June 2026, with feedback invited up to July 13, 2026.
• Key change proposed: AAY entitlement may shift from a flat 35 kg per household per month to 7 kg per person per month, subject to a ceiling of 35 kg per household.

PM POSHAN Scheme

• Nature of scheme: PM POSHAN, earlier known as the Mid-Day Meal scheme, is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• Sharing pattern: The fund-sharing ratio is 60:40 for general category states and 90:10 for North Eastern and Himalayan states.
• Temporary extension: The Union Government extended PM POSHAN and Samagra Shiksha till September 30, 2026, or until the 16th Finance Commission cycle (2026-27 to 2030-31) is formally approved, whichever is earlier.
• Budget 2025-26: The scheme received an estimated allocation of ₹12,500 crore.
• Material cost revision: From May 1, 2025, material costs were enhanced, leading to an additional estimated expenditure of ₹954 crore in FY 2025-26.

Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0

• Ministry: The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Budget allocation: It received ₹21,960 crore in the Union Budget 2025-26.
• Objective: The programme supports nutrition-related interventions for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
• Centre upgrade target: More than 1.04 lakh Anganwadi Centres had been upgraded to Saksham Anganwadi Centres by March 2026, out of an approved target of 2 lakh centres.
• Digital tracking: Beneficiary and centre monitoring is done through the Poshan Tracker app.
• Biometric registration: Biometric-based registration began from August 1, 2025.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

• Vertical: PMMVY operates under the Samarthya vertical of Mission Shakti.
• Budget allocation: Mission Shakti’s Samarthya vertical received ₹2,521 crore in the Union Budget 2025-26.
• First live birth: The scheme provides ₹5,000 in two instalments for the first live birth.
• Second child benefit: It provides ₹6,000 in a single instalment if the second child is a girl.
• Target group: The scheme supports pregnant women and lactating mothers.

Key Prelims Takeaways

• NFSA legal basis: The National Food Security Act, 2013, is the statutory framework for food security in India.
• PMGKAY period: Free foodgrain support under PMGKAY runs from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2028.
• PMGKAY entitlement: AAY households get 35 kg per household per month; PHH beneficiaries get 5 kg per person per month.
• AAY proposal: The 2026 draft amendment proposes 7 kg per person per month for AAY, capped at 35 kg per household.
• PM POSHAN funding: The sharing pattern is 60:40 for general states and 90:10 for North Eastern and Himalayan states.
• Poshan 2.0 tracking: The Poshan Tracker app is used for real-time monitoring of Anganwadi services and beneficiaries.
• PMMVY benefit: The scheme provides ₹5,000 for the first child and ₹6,000 for the second child if it is a girl.