PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)

✦Key Features

• Provision of free food grains (5 kg per person) and 1 kg of pulses per household monthly.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of financial assistance to women Jan Dhan account holders, farmers, and other vulnerable groups.
• Increase in the daily wage under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
• Insurance cover for healthcare workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Initial provision for individuals to declare undisclosed income with a penalty and deposit scheme.

✓Eligibility Criteria

• Households covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) for food grains.
• Women holding Jan Dhan bank accounts.
• Farmers registered under PM-KISAN scheme.
• Senior citizens, widows, and disabled persons.
• Individuals declaring undisclosed income (for the initial scheme).

★Benefits

• Enhanced food security for over 80 crore people through free food grains.
• Direct financial support providing a safety net to vulnerable populations.
• Increased rural employment and income through MGNREGA wage hikes.
• Integration of black money into the formal economy (initial phase).

▶Application Process

• Automatic for existing beneficiaries of schemes like NFSA and PM-KISAN.
• Direct credit of financial assistance to eligible bank accounts.
• Access to free food grains through Public Distribution System (PDS) outlets.
• Declaration of undisclosed income through specified forms and channels (initial phase).

₹ Budget Allocation

170000

Funding Ratio (Centre:State): 100% Central Government (Central Sector)

Historical Context

Initially launched in April 2020 as a COVID-19 relief measure; merged with NFSA on Jan 1, 2024, making NFSA entitlements free for 5 years.