Food subsidy in FY22 to be about Rs 4 trn vs BE of Rs 2.4 trn: Food secy

Under NFSA, the Centre gives highly subsidised food grains at Rs 1-3 per kg to over 810 million people through the public distribution system

Just weeks before the Budget, Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said the government’s food subsidy in the ongoing fiscal year (FY22) is expected to be a little less than Rs 4 trillion.

Addressing reporters in New Delhi, the food secretary said around Rs 2.25 trillion subsidy is estimated for procurement and distribution of food grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), while an additional Rs 1.47 trillion has been incurred for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). The Budget Estimate for food subsidy in FY22 is around Rs 2.43 trillion, according to Budget papers.

For FY21, the Revised Estimate