## Public Distribution System (PDS) — Food Grain Allocation **Key Point:** Under the **National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013**, the maximum monthly allocation of food grains for **Below Poverty Line (BPL) households** under the Public Distribution System is **35 kg per household per month**. ### PDS Entitlement Structure (NFSA 2013) | Category | Food Grain Allocation | Subsidized Price | | --- | --- | --- | | Priority Households (PHH) / BPL | **5 kg per person per month** (≈ 35 kg for a family of 7) | ₹3/kg (rice), ₹2/kg (wheat), ₹1/kg (coarse cereals) | | Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) | **35 kg per household per month** (fixed, irrespective of family size) | ₹3/kg (rice), ₹2/kg (wheat), ₹1/kg (coarse cereals) | **Important Clarification:** The NFSA 2013 replaced the older BPL/APL framework with **Priority Households (PHH)** and **AAY** categories. Under the pre-NFSA PDS norm, BPL households were entitled to **35 kg per household per month** (not 25 kg). The figure of 25 kg was an intermediate norm used during a transitional period and is not the standard maximum allocation. The **maximum allocation of 35 kg per household per month** applies to both AAY households (fixed) and large PHH/BPL families (5 kg/person × 7 members). **High-Yield:** The **35 kg per household per month** figure is the well-established maximum norm for BPL households under PDS, as cited in Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine and standard PSM references. The AAY scheme, targeting the "poorest of the poor," also guarantees 35 kg/household/month at the same subsidized rates. **Mnemonic:** **BPL (max) = AAY = 35 kg per household per month** — The ceiling allocation under PDS for the most vulnerable categories is 35 kg. ### Key Features of PDS - Covers approximately **80 crore beneficiaries** nationally under NFSA 2013 - Provides **rice, wheat, and coarse cereals** at heavily subsidized rates - Administered through **Fair Price Shops (FPS)** at the village/local level - **Ration card** is the primary document for entitlement verification - NFSA 2013 guarantees food security to **67% of the population** **Reference:** Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th edition; National Food Security Act, 2013 (Government of India).
Sign up free to access AI-powered MCQ practice with detailed explanations and adaptive learning.