National Food Security Act, 2013

National Food Security Act, 2013
Food security and insecurity in India
Government of India
Enacted by	Government of India
Signed	10 September 2013; 10 years ago (10 September 2013)
Status: In force

The National Food Security Act 2013, also known as Right to Food Act, is an Indian Act of Parliament which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two thirds of the country's 1.4 billion people.^[1] It was signed into law on 12 September 2013, retroactive to 5 July 2013.^[2][3]

The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA 2013) converts into legal entitlements for existing food security programmes of the Government of India. It includes the Midday Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services scheme and the Public Distribution System. Further, the NFSA 2013 recognizes maternity entitlements. The Midday Meal Scheme and the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme are universal in nature whereas the PDS will reach about two-thirds of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas).

Under the provisions of the Act, beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System (or, PDS) are entitled to 5 kilograms (11 lb) per person per month of cereals at the following prices:

• Rice at ₹3 (3.6¢ US) per kg
• Wheat at ₹2 (2.4¢ US) per kg
• Coarse grains (millet) at ₹1 (1.2¢ US) per kg.

Those with Antyodaya cards are entitled to 35 kg per month at the same prices as above.

The Act also includes the Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDM), the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS) and maternity entitlements. While the MDM and ICDS were pre-existing schemes of the union government, universal maternity entitlements were created under the NFSA 2013 for the first time. In 2017, these entitlements were operationalized through the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana. Through the ICDS and MDM, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children are eligible for daily free meals in government schools and anganwadi centres.

The bill was hotly debated before its introduction in Parliament and after it was introduced in Parliament. It was introduced into India's parliament on 22 December 2011, promulgated as a presidential ordinance on 5 July 2013, and enacted into law on 12 September 2013.^[4][5] Government of Odisha announced implementation of the act in 14 district from 17 November 2015.^[6] Government of Assam implemented the Act on 24 December 2015.^[7]