The central government is urging states to accelerate the process of removing ineligible beneficiaries from the government's free foodgrain scheme by the end of September. Simultaneously, states are encouraged to add deserving individuals to the scheme, ensuring that government aid reaches those who are most in need. This initiative aims to improve the targeting of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and ensure that benefits reach the intended recipients.

The Push for Accurate Beneficiary Lists

The Food Ministry has emphasized the need for states to re-verify beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), particularly since the original lists were prepared over a decade ago. This directive follows a comprehensive exercise by the ministry to strengthen the rightful targeting of free foodgrain distribution. This exercise involved matching the database of the ration card management system (RCMS) with databases of various government entities, including the Central Board of Direct Taxes, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

Identifying Ineligible Beneficiaries

Through data convergence, the Food Ministry found that approximately 10% of the existing 80 crore beneficiaries under PMGKAY appeared in one or more databases, suggesting they may not meet the eligibility norms set by their respective states. These individuals may be taxpayers, car owners, or company directors. The Centre has prepared a list of ration card holders, about 1.17 crore, who may not qualify for free food grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The ministry has asked states to undertake necessary field verification and remove ineligible ration card holders by September 30.

States Take Action

Several states, including Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, have already initiated steps to weed out ineligible beneficiaries. For example, Rajasthan has removed around 28 lakh ineligible beneficiaries through a "voluntary give up" initiative, while Odisha has weeded out approximately 7 lakh beneficiaries who have died or have higher incomes. Punjab has also been asked to verify the antecedents of 11 lakh "suspicious" beneficiaries and remove them by the end of September. In April 2023, the state government of Punjab had removed 13 lakh "suspicious" beneficiaries.

Adding Deserving Beneficiaries

The central government has assured states that there will be no reduction in the overall number of beneficiaries. The aim is to ensure that deserving people receive government benefits by replacing ineligible beneficiaries with eligible ones. The NFSA mandates coverage of 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population. As of July 2025, there was still scope to identify 7.9 million more beneficiaries under the NFSA. States like Delhi and Maharashtra have the potential to add a significant number of new beneficiaries, with Delhi having a waitlist of approximately 10 lakh people and Maharashtra having over 50,000.

Ensuring Food Security for All

The National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, aims to provide subsidized food grains to a large portion of the population. Under the NFSA, the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, the poorest of the poor, are legally entitled to receive 35 kg of foodgrains per family per month. Priority households are entitled to 5 kg per person per month. The government provides food grains free of cost to AAY households and priority households under the NFSA for a period beginning from January 1, 2023. By removing ineligible beneficiaries and adding deserving ones, the government hopes to improve the efficiency and equity of the food security scheme, ensuring that those who need assistance receive it.