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The Proposed Reset: National Food Security (Amendment) Bill, 2026

Kumari Sonali

The Proposed Reset: National Food Security (Amendment) Bill, 2026

Leading public health and nutrition experts—including Dr. Soumya Swaminathan and Dr. V. Mohan—jointly highlighted the policy implications of the draft National Food Security (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

  • The proposed reset aims to resolve structural inequities between individual and household entitlements under the NFSA. Currently, Priority Households (PHH) receive 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month, whereas Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households (the poorest of the poor) receive a flat quota of 35 kg per household per month.

Key Features of the Draft National Food Security (Amendment) Bill, 2026:

  • Amends NFSA, 2013: Proposes to amend the first proviso to Section 3(1) of the National Food Security Act, 2013.
  • Per-PersonAAY Entitlement: Every person belonging to an Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) household will be entitled to 7 kg of foodgrains per month.
  • 35-kg Household Ceiling: The total entitlement of an AAY household will be capped at 35 kg per month, irrespective of household size.
  • Shift from Household to Individual Basis: Replaces the existing uniform 35 kg per household entitlement with a per-person allocation, subject to the overall ceiling.
  • Addressing Intra-Category Inequity: Seeks to correct disparities under which smaller AAY households receive more foodgrain per capita than larger households.
  • Rational &Nutrition-Linked Allocation: Aims to provide a more rational distribution of foodgrains and better align entitlements with individual nutritional requirements.
  • Government-Determined Implementation: The extent of AAY coverage will continue to be specified by the Central Government for each State, while the amendment will take effect from a date notified in the Official Gazette.