Centre extends free foodgrain scheme for 800 million till this Diwali

After today, extension, the additional subsidy requirement under PMGKAY-3 at the current rate should swell to over Rs 90,000 crore, including Rs 26,000 crore for the first two months

The Central government on Monday extended the ongoing free additional foodgrains distribution scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana for five more months starting from July till November as millions of poor families remain badly impacted due to the second wave of Covid-19.

The PMGKAY-3 was initially announced for the months of May and June in view of the second wave of COVID-19.

Under the Garib Kalyan scheme, Centre distributes 5 kg of wheat or rice per person per month free of cost to almost 800 million beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), over and above