Food is a fundamental necessity, and ensuring its accessibility while maintaining nutritional standards is crucial for overall well-being. To address this, the government has implemented several unique schemes that provide essential rations at fair prices while focusing on the nutrition of newborns and mothers. These initiatives aim to promote holistic health and ensure that every citizen has access to both food and proper nutrition.
The Public Distribution System (PDS) has evolved as a key mechanism for managing food scarcity by distributing food grains at affordable prices. Over the years, PDS has become an essential part of the government’s food economy strategy. It has achieved 100% digitization of ration card data under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), covering approximately 80.5 crore beneficiaries. More than 99.8% of ration cards have been Aadhaar-seeded, and about 99.6% of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the country have been automated using electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices. Additionally, more than 97% of transactions have been recorded biometrically to ensure transparency.
The PM POSHAN (POSHAN Shakti Nirman) Scheme, earlier known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, aims to improve school enrolment, attendance, and retention by providing nutritional support to primary school children. Launched initially in 1995 as the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE), the scheme was expanded in 2008-09 to include upper primary classes. The financial outlay for the scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26 stands at Rs. 1,30,794.90 crore, covering food grain costs, central, and state government contributions. The scheme’s budget has grown significantly over the years, increasing from Rs. 6,539.52 crore in 2008-09 to Rs. 8,457.74 crore in 2023-24.
The PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME) was introduced in 2020-21 with an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore to offer financial, technical, and business support for upgrading micro food processing enterprises and establishing new units. The scheme has seen remarkable growth, with project costs increasing from Rs. 390.99 crore in 2021-22 to Rs. 5,198.3 crore in 2023-24. The number of food processing units has also grown from 2,885 in 2021-22 to 54,730 in 2023-24, generating employment for 1,88,802 individuals.
The Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) was approved in March 2021 to promote Indian food brands globally. With a budget of Rs. 10,900 crore, the scheme provides financial incentives for branding and marketing Indian-branded consumer food products in international markets. By October 31, 2024, an investment of Rs. 8,910 crore was made across 213 locations, generating employment for over 2.89 lakh individuals. The scheme’s project cost has increased significantly from Rs. 663 crore in 2020-21 to Rs. 8,910 crore in 2023-24, demonstrating substantial growth in investment.
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was launched in March 2020 to support economically vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this initiative, free food grains (rice/wheat) were distributed to approximately 81.35 crore NFSA beneficiaries at a scale of 5 kg per person per month. The scheme, initially implemented for 28 months, was extended to provide free food grains for another five years from January 1, 2024. More than 75 crore beneficiaries received food grains every month under PMGKAY during FY 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23.
The POSHAN Abhiyaan, launched in March 2018, aims to improve the nutritional status of children (0-6 years), adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers while reducing stunting, wasting, and anemia. The scheme received fund allocations of Rs. 950 crore in 2017-18, Rs. 3,061.30 crore in 2018-19, and Rs. 3,400 crore in 2019-20. As of December 31, 2024, the scheme had reached 10,12,82,551 beneficiaries, reflecting steady growth in outreach.
Additionally, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has approved 41 Mega Food Park (MFP) projects, with 24 already operational and 17 under development. The government has also promoted the branding of millets as Shree Anna, marking a significant milestone in food and nutrition advancements. These initiatives collectively aim to revolutionize the food industry, ensuring a sustainable and nutritious future for all.