Loading page, please wait…
What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana? - UPSC Economy
What is What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana? in UPSC Economy?
What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana? is a key topic under Economy for UPSC Civil Services Examination. Key points include: PMGKAY was launched in 2020 under Atmanirbhar Bharat to provide free food grains.. It was an additional provision, supplementing regular allocations under NFSA, 2013.. Benefited ~80 crore NFSA beneficiaries (AAY and PHH).. Understanding this topic is essential for both UPSC Prelims and Mains preparation.
Why is What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana? important for UPSC exam?
What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana? is a Medium-level topic in UPSC Economy. It is tested in both Prelims (factual MCQs) and Mains (analytical answer writing). Previous year UPSC questions have frequently covered aspects of What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?, making it essential for comprehensive IAS preparation.
How to prepare What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana? for UPSC?
To prepare What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana? for UPSC: (1) Study the comprehensive notes covering all key concepts on Vaidra. (2) Practice previous year questions on this topic. (3) Connect it with current affairs using daily updates. (4) Revise using key takeaways and mind maps available for Economy. (5) Write practice answers linking What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana? to related GS Paper topics.
Key takeaways of What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana? for UPSC
- PMGKAY was launched in 2020 under Atmanirbhar Bharat to provide free food grains.
- It was an additional provision, supplementing regular allocations under NFSA, 2013.
- Benefited ~80 crore NFSA beneficiaries (AAY and PHH).
- AAY households received 35 kg/month; PHH beneficiaries received 5 kg/person/month.
- Implemented in seven phases from April 2020 to December 2022, distributing 1,015 LMT of food grains.
- Crucial for alleviating economic impact of COVID-19 on low-income households.
What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?
Medium⏱️ 6 min read
economy
📖 Introduction
Introduction to Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) is a significant initiative launched by the Central Government. It was introduced in 2020 as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat program.
The primary goal of PMGKAY was to mitigate the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It specifically targeted low-income households across the country.
Key Objective: Free Food Grains
The core objective of PMGKAY was to provide free food grains to vulnerable populations. This provision was made in addition to the regular allocations already provided under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
PMGKAY acted as a crucial safety net, ensuring food security during an unprecedented national crisis by supplementing existing welfare measures.
Beneficiaries and Entitlements
Initially, PMGKAY extended additional free food grains to approximately 80 crore beneficiaries. These beneficiaries were already covered under the NFSA framework.
The scheme included both Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH).
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households: Each AAY household was entitled to receive 35 kg of food grains per month.
- Priority Households (PHH): Beneficiaries under PHH received 5 kg of food grains per person per month.
NFSA, 2013 provides for subsidized food grains. PMGKAY added an extra layer of support by making these additional allocations completely free of cost.
Phases and Distribution
The implementation of PMGKAY was structured into seven phases. These phases spanned from April 2020 to December 2022.
Over its operational period, the scheme successfully distributed a substantial volume of food grains. A total of 1,015 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) of food grains were distributed under PMGKAY.
For UPSC Prelims, remember key figures like 80 crore beneficiaries and the total distribution of 1,015 LMT. For Mains, focus on the scheme's role in crisis management and its linkage to NFSA and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
💡 Key Takeaways
- •PMGKAY was launched in 2020 under Atmanirbhar Bharat to provide free food grains.
- •It was an additional provision, supplementing regular allocations under NFSA, 2013.
- •Benefited ~80 crore NFSA beneficiaries (AAY and PHH).
- •AAY households received 35 kg/month; PHH beneficiaries received 5 kg/person/month.
- •Implemented in seven phases from April 2020 to December 2022, distributing 1,015 LMT of food grains.
- •Crucial for alleviating economic impact of COVID-19 on low-income households.
🧠 Memory Techniques
98% Verified Content
📚 Reference Sources
•Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India (for PMGKAY details)
•Press Information Bureau (PIB), Government of India (for official announcements and data)