Question

Identify the correct statements in the context of the Food Security Act, 2013.

A. It gives legal entitlement of food security to 75% rural and 50% urban population.

B. A beneficiary will be entitled rice, coarse cereals and wheat @ Rs. 3, Rs. 2 and Rs. 1 per kg per month respectively.

1. Both A and B are correct 
2. Both A and B are incorrect 
3. Only A is correct 
4. Only B is correct 

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Only A is correct 

The correct answer is Only A.

The National Food Security Act,2013:

• The NFS Act, 2013 aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of India’s 1.2 billion people.
  • At present, NFSA covers up to 75 percent of the rural population and 50 percent of the urban population in the country. Hence statement A is correct
  • Under the provisions of the bill, beneficiaries of the PDS are entitled to 5 kilograms per person per month of cereals at the following prices:
    • Rice at Rs 3 per kg.
    • Wheat at Rs 2 per kg.
    • Coarse grains (millet) at Re 1 per kg. Hence statement B is Incorrect.
  • Pregnant women, lactating mothers, and certain categories of children are eligible for daily free cereals.

• The act was passed on 12^th September 2013, with retroactive effect from 5^th July 2013.
• It provided legal entitlements for existing food security programs of the Indian government. It includes the Midday Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme and the Public Distribution System (PDS).
• Further, the NFSA 2013 recognizes maternity entitlements. The Midday Meal Scheme and the ICDS are universal in nature whereas the PDS will reach about two-thirds of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas).
• Based on this, state-wise coverage under NFSA was determined by the erstwhile Planning Commission now NITI Aayog.
• It was done by using the National Sample Survey Household Consumption Expenditure Survey data for 2011-12.
• Since then, the state-wise coverage ratio has not been revised.