State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 29 May 2025

Uttar Pradesh Abolishes District-wise Quota under NFSA

Why in News? 

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to scrap the district-wise quota system for beneficiary allocation under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 to ensure more equitable coverage of eligible families, especially in backward and underserved districts. 

Key Points 

• Current Scenario in the State:  
  • The Central government determines the food grain allocation for each state under the NFSA based on a fixed population coverage of 64.46% in rural areas and 78.54% in urban areas. 
• Policy Change: 
  • Removal of District-wise Quota: 
    • Uttar Pradesh traditionally followed an additional district-wise cap, allocating beneficiaries per district.  
    • This resulted in a disproportionate distribution that favored relatively prosperous districts such as Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar, leaving poorer districts often unable to accommodate all eligible families. 
  • Introduction of State-wide Allocation: 
    • The new system will use state-wide population data and eligibility norms to allocate benefits. 
    • This is expected to ensure that distribution aligns more closely with the eligibility criteria set forth in the Act, rather than being constrained by arbitrary administrative limits. 
• Impact on Beneficiary Coverage: 
  • As part of the redistribution process, 5,000 new beneficiaries have been added in each of the districts of Sitapur, Barabanki, and Lalitpur. 
  • These additions were made by reallocating the corresponding number of beneficiaries from Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar. 
  • In the Bundelkhand region, the NFSA coverage is being increased to 90%. 
  • In several deserving districts in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the coverage is being raised to 85%. 
• Administrative Performance: 
  • According to the April report from the Integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRS) portal, the Department of Food and Civil Supplies ranked fourth in resolving public complaints. 
    • It was ranked just behind the Khadi and Village Industries, Cooperative Department, and Excise Department. 
  • Departments that ranked among the bottom four include Industries and Infrastructure Development, Housing and Urban Planning, Environment and Climate Change, and Women Welfare. 

National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013  

• About NFSA:  
  • It was enacted on 5th July 2013, with the aim of ensuring food and nutritional security in India.  
  • It marked a shift from a welfare-based approach to a rights-based approach by legally entitling a significant portion of the population to receive subsidized food grains. 
• Objectives: 
  • The Act aims to provide access to adequate quantities of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity. 
  • It seeks to ensure that food security is a legal right for eligible individuals. 
  • It also promotes women empowerment by designating the eldest woman (aged 18 years or above) as the head of the household for ration card purposes. 
• Coverage and Entitlements: 
  • The NFSA legally entitled up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive food grains at subsidized rates.  
    • This covers approximately 81.34 crore individuals across India. 
• Categories of Beneficiaries: 
  • Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, considered the poorest of the poor, are entitled to 35 kilograms of food grains per family per month. 
  • Priority households are entitled to receive 5 kilograms of food grains per person per month. 
• Prices for Food Grains: 
  • The Act specifies subsidized prices for food grains: 
    • Rice is provided at ₹3 per kilogram. 
    • Wheat is provided at ₹2 per kilogram. 
    • Coarse grains are provided at ₹1 per kilogram. 
  • These prices were initially set for three years from the date of implementation but have been extended periodically by the central government. 
• Responsibilities Under NFSA: 
  • Central Government: 
    • The central government is responsible for allocating food grains to States and Union Territories. 
    • It manages the transportation of food grains to designated depots and provides financial assistance for further distribution. 
    • It also holds the power to make rules for the implementation of the Act under Section 39. 
  • State and Union Territory Governments: 
    • State/UT governments are responsible for identifying eligible households, issuing ration cards, and distributing food grains through Fair Price Shops (FPS). 
    • They must also monitor the FPS network, issue licenses, and establish grievance redressal systems. 
• Additional Provisions: 
  • In case of non-supply of entitled food grains or meals, beneficiaries are entitled to a Food Security Allowance, which must be provided by the state government. 
  • A "Tide Over Allocation" is available to protect states whose NFSA allocation is lower than their previous TPDS allocation. 
  • The central government has notified several rules under the Act, including: 
    • Food Security Allowance Rules, 2015 
    • Cash Transfer of Food Subsidy Rules, 2015 
    • Assistance to State Governments Rules, 2015