Big change in ration rules… now 7 kg grains will be available per person instead of per family, big families will get huge benefits.

digital desk- The Central Government is going to make a big and historic change in the rules of ‘Antyodaya Anna Yojana’ (AAY) being run for the poorest families of the country. For this, the Department of Food and Public Distribution has prepared a proposal to amend the ‘National Food Security Act, 2013’. Under this new rule, now the allocation of grains will be done on ‘per capita’ basis instead of per family, which is expected to provide direct and big benefit to the big poor families. The Food Ministry has sought suggestions and opinions from the general public till July 13 on the ‘National Food Security (Amendment) Bill, 2026’.

What is the current system and why is there a need for change?

As per the current rule, families falling in the Antyodaya category get a fixed amount of 35 kg of food grains per month per family, whether the family has 2 or 8 members. In contrast, ‘priority families’ get 5 kg of grains per person. Due to this system, a huge discrepancy was being created in which the large Antyodaya families were getting less food grains on per capita basis than the priority families, whereas the most vulnerable and poor people of the country fall in the Antyodaya category. To remove this inequality, the government is bringing this new rule.

Know who will get the benefit of the new rule and how?

Under the proposed new rule, Antyodaya families will now be given 7 kg of grains per person every month, although the capping of 35 kg per family will remain intact.

• Small families: If an Antyodaya family has only two members, they will now get 14 kg of grains every month.
• Large families: Families having five or more members will be given full 35 kg of grains directly as per the maximum limit.

This will make the allocation of grains more equitable according to the size of the family and the food needs of large families will be better met.

What is the main objective of this new amendment?

The government has taken this step with the aim of further strengthening food and nutrition security in the country under the ‘Human Life Cycle Approach’. Its main objective is to provide good quality and adequate quantity of food to the poorest of the poor at an affordable price (which is currently free). Let us tell you that at present the government is providing wheat and rice completely free of cost to both Antyodaya and priority families.