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PMGKAY beneficiaries to get more wheat, says Centre

The Centre said the decision to increase wheat allocation under PMGKAY came given the ample quantity of wheat available in the country.

According to officials, during the last fiscal year, ending in March 2025, the Punjab government had a CCL of about Rs 79,000 crore and paid an interest of Rs 6,000 crore.

Two years after it cut the allocation of wheat to 10 states under the National Food Security Act, 2013, the Centre on Wednesday decided to partially restore the wheat allocation for the beneficiaries under the law.

Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, told reporters the Centre has decided to give 35 lakh tonnes of wheat to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) under the NFSA. This will be in addition to the existing annual allocation of 184 lakh tonnes, he said.

Chopra said in view of the ample quantity of wheat available in the country, the government has decided to increase the wheat allocation. He also said that a quantity of 100 lakh metric tonnes is available with the traders in the country, which is higher as compared to the same time last year.

Also Read | Why the Centre is right in not extending the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana scheme

After the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution cut wheat allocation, the 10 states were allocated an additional quantity of rice that is equal to the cut in their wheat allocation.

Harikishan Sharma

Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister’s Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More

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PMGKAY
wheat