World Food Day: How India Strengthens Food Security for 81 Crore Citizens

Ziraat Times Team Report

New Delhi: India’s comprehensive food security system continues to ensure nutritional equity for nearly 81 crore citizens, according to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. The system combines two key pillars — food production under the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) and distribution under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.

The NFSNM, launched in 2024-25 as an expansion of the earlier National Food Security Mission, supports States and Union Territories in boosting production of rice, wheat, pulses and coarse grains through modern inputs, soil health management, and farmer training. The mission contributes directly to the central foodgrain pool that sustains public distribution.

Under the NFSA, up to 75% of rural and 50% of urban populations are entitled to free foodgrains through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). Since January 2023, all Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household (PHH) beneficiaries have been receiving foodgrains free of cost. The government extended this scheme for five years from January 2024, with an estimated ₹11.8 lakh-crore financial outlay.

To address malnutrition, the Act also guarantees nutritional support to pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under the ICDS and PM-POSHAN programmes, which provide fortified meals and cash maternity benefits.

The government has introduced major initiatives to strengthen the food ecosystem:

• Rice Fortification Initiative ensures 100% fortified rice under central schemes, extended till December 2028 with ₹17,082 crore funding.

• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for food subsidy operates in select Union Territories.

• SMART-PDS reform will digitalise procurement, allocation and delivery by 2025.

Digital transformation of the PDS includes 99.9% Aadhaar seeding, 100% digitised ration cards, and the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) network, enabling nationwide portability of food benefits.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State agencies maintain healthy foodgrain stocks — 377.83 LMT rice and 358.78 LMT wheat as of July 2025 — well above buffer norms.

Through these integrated measures, India continues to reinforce its commitment to food and nutritional security, ensuring affordable access to food while supporting farmers and sustainable agricultural growth.