What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013 ? How has the Food Security Bill…

Question

What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013 ? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India ?

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

The NFSA, 2013 gives up to 75% of rural and 50% of urban Indians a legal right to cheap grain, with life-cycle entitlements and grievance redress, and it averted mass hunger in COVID-19. Malnutrition persists, with 67.1% of young children anaemic in NFHS-5 (2019-21).

**Introduction**

The National Food Security Act, 2013 turned the right to food, recognised by the Supreme Court in PUCL v Union of India (2001), into a legal entitlement. It has curbed hunger, but malnutrition persists.

**Salient Features of the NFSA, 2013**

SKETCH: flow | Life-Cycle Entitlements Under NFSA
- Pregnancy: Rs 6,000
- Under six: Anganwadi meal
- Ages 6-14: mid-day meal
- Household: monthly grain

1. **Legal coverage**: Up to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population, about 81 crore people, get 5 kg of grain per person a month; Antyodaya households keep 35 kg.
2. **Low or free prices**: Rice at Rs 3, wheat at Rs 2 and coarse grains at Rs 1 a kilo, free since January 2023 and extended for five years from 2024.
3. **Women and accountability**: The eldest woman heads the ration card, and grievance officers, State Food Commissions and a food security allowance make the right enforceable.

**How the Act Has Reduced Hunger and Malnutrition**

1. **Pandemic safety net**: PMGKAY's extra 5 kg for about 80 crore people from April 2020 averted mass hunger.
2. **Better reach**: ePoS and One Nation One Ration Card, in all states since 2022, cut leakage and served migrants.
3. **Child nutrition**: Stunting fell from 38.4% (2015-16) to 35.5% (2019-21) per NFHS, yet 67.1% of young children remained anaemic and India ranked 105th in the Global Hunger Index 2024.

**Way Forward**

1. **Nutrition basket**: Add millets, pulses and fortified rice, update coverage beyond Census 2011, and converge with Poshan 2.0.

**Conclusion**

The NFSA has worked as a safety net but only partly against malnutrition. Shifting from food security to nutrition security will carry India towards SDG 2.

What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013 ? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India ?

Model answer

Practise this question

Buffer Stocks and Food Security4 questions

Ghissu