Pandemic relief: Centre extends 5 kg ration scheme under PMGKAY till March

Just months before the crucial Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, the Cabinet on Wednesday not only approved the Bill to repeal three contentious farm laws, but also extended the free foodgrain distribution scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) for four more months from December.

Under the PMGKAY, the Centre gives an additional five kilograms of rice or wheat per month to beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) over and above their usual monthly quota for free.

The Centre will incur an additional expenditure of around Rs 53,344.52 crore because of the extension.