Centre extends free foodgrain scheme by 6 months at Rs 80,000-cr extra cost

Centre's decision comes hours after UP government, under CM Yogi Adityanath, decided to continue the free ration scheme for another 3 months

The Modi government on Saturday extended the scheme to provide 5 kg of foodgrains free of cost to the poor by six months till September 30 at a cost of Rs 80,000 crore.

Barely hours after the newly elected Uttar Pradesh government extended its free ration scheme for three months starting from April, the Centre too chipped in by extending the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY), or free foodgrain scheme, for another six months.

The Centre will incur an additional food subsidy of around Rs 80,000 crore for extending the scheme for another six months, which will be over and