Question map
With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements : 1. The families coming under the category of 'below poverty line (BPL)' only are eligible to receive subsidised food grains. 2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card. 3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a 'take-home ration' of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Explanation
The correct answer is option B (Statement 2 only).
**Statement 1 is incorrect**: The National Food Security Act, 2013 covers 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population[2], not just BPL families. Before this Act, beneficiaries under TPDS were around 40 crore people[1], but the Act significantly expanded coverage to approximately 84 crore people, going beyond the BPL categorization.
**Statement 2 is correct**: The eldest woman who is not less than 18 years of age, in every eligible household, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of ration cards[3]. This provision ensures women's empowerment in food security administration.
**Statement 3 is incorrect**: While pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to free meals during pregnancy and up to six months after child birth through Aanganwadi[4], the specific calorie entitlement is 600 calories of energy and 18–20 grams of proteins per person per day[5], not 1600 calories as stated in the question.
Sources- [1] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 9: Subsidies > 9.5.3 National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 > p. 295
- [2] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > National Food Security Act, 2013 > p. 334
- [3] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 9: Subsidies > The following are salient features of the National Food Security Act 2013: > p. 296
- [4] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 9: Subsidies > Subsidies > p. 296
- [5] https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-06/Take-home-ration-report-30_06_2022.pdf
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a textbook 'Flagship Act' question. Statements 1 and 2 are foundational knowledge found in every standard Economy text (NCERT/Singh/Singhania). Statement 3 is a classic 'Data Trap'—swapping a specific technical number (600 kcal) with an exaggerated one (1600 kcal) to test depth.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Under the National Food Security Act, 2013, are subsidised food grains provided only to families classified as Below Poverty Line (BPL)?
- Statement 2: Under the National Food Security Act, 2013, is the eldest woman in a household aged 18 years or above designated as the head of the household for the purpose of issuing a ration card?
- Statement 3: Under the National Food Security Act, 2013, are pregnant women and lactating mothers entitled to a take-home ration?
- Statement 4: Under the National Food Security Act, 2013, is the take-home ration entitlement for pregnant women and lactating mothers specified as 1600 calories per day?
- Statement 5: Under the National Food Security Act, 2013, is the take-home ration for pregnant women provided during pregnancy and continued for six months after delivery?
- Directly states NFSA applicability: covers 75% of rural and 50% of urban population (approx 84 crore) — far larger than only BPL.
- Explains beneficiaries are divided into categories (e.g., AAY), implying multiple beneficiary groups beyond BPL.
- Says NFSA extends to whole India and specifically that 75% rural and 50% urban populations receive subsidised food grains through TPDS.
- Frames NFSA as a rights‑based expansion of coverage rather than limited BPL targeting.
- NCERT snippet explicitly categorises 75% rural and 50% urban households as eligible under NFSA, showing entitlement is not restricted to BPL alone.
- Links NFSA to broader food security and PDS coverage evolution (universal → targeted → expanded NFSA quotas).
- Snippet explicitly lists as a salient feature that the eldest woman (≥18) in every eligible household shall be the head for ration cards.
- Described under 'Women Empowerment' showing the provision is part of NFSA's statutory features.
- Snippet also states the contingency when no woman ≥18 exists, confirming the rule's operational intent.
- Explicitly lists 'Pregnant women and lactating mothers' among beneficiaries under the Act.
- Specifies provision of a 'Free meal during pregnancy and up to six months after child birth through Aanganwadi', indicating entitlement to food support during these periods.
- Also notes monetary support (Rs. 6000 in instalments), reinforcing that the Act provides targeted benefits for this group.
- Describes NFSA as an update of TPDS 'with certain changes and additional incentives', providing contextual support that NFSA includes specific supplementary benefits.
- States the Act's broad coverage and restructuring of beneficiary categories, implying scope for targeted maternal/child benefits referenced elsewhere.
- Explicitly states the calorie entitlement for pregnant women and lactating mothers for THR.
- Gives a numeric value (600 calories) that directly contradicts the 1600-calorie figure in the statement.
- Confirms the National Food Security Act, 2013 (and Supplementary Nutrition rules, 2017) set calorie and protein norms for THR.
- Provides context that nutritional standards for pregnant and lactating women are specified under the Act.
- Refers to Schedule II of the Act which specifies nutritional standards for meals and take-home rations for children and pregnant/lactating mothers.
- Shows the Act includes a detailed table of caloric/protein norms for THR (context for specific entitlements).
This snippet reproduces an exam-style question that explicitly states a claim: pregnant and lactating mothers are 'entitled to a take-home ration' of 1600 calories/day during pregnancy and for six months after.
A student could treat this as a reported claim and seek the NFSA text or official schedules to confirm whether that exact calorie figure is specified.
It confirms NFSA provides a free meal during pregnancy and up to six months after childbirth through Anganwadi and a cash benefit (Rs. 6000), showing NFSA/ICDS link to maternal entitlements.
Since it affirms a meal/take-home benefit exists, a student can look up ICDS/NFSA implementation norms for stated caloric/nutrition norms to test the 1600 kcal claim.
States that NFSA includes the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, linking NFSA maternal/child benefits to ICDS delivery mechanisms (Anganwadi).
Knowing ICDS is the delivery vehicle, a student could consult ICDS nutritional norms (commonly published separately) to see if 1600 kcal appears there.
Explains the conversion of TPDS into NFSA and the structure/coverage of NFSA entitlements, implying many specific benefits are set out in the Act or its schedules.
A student can infer that specific numeric entitlements (like calories) would be located in the Act's schedules or implementing orders and should be checked there.
Highlights the public-health concern over malnutrition among pregnant and nursing mothers, indicating why NFSA/ICDS would specify nutritional support levels.
Using this context, a student could reasonably seek out official nutritional standards (kcal/day) for pregnant/lactating women used by national programmes to evaluate the 1600 kcal figure.
- Explicitly states the Act provides a free meal for pregnant women and lactating mothers during pregnancy and up to six months after childbirth.
- Specifies delivery channel (Anganwadi) and an associated cash instalment (Rs. 6,000), confirming postnatal continuation of benefits.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter with a Trap. Statements 1 and 2 are basic static knowledge; Statement 3 is a 'Data Exaggeration' trap. Source: Standard Economy Books (Vivek Singh/NCERT).
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Welfare Schemes & Rights-Based Frameworks > National Food Security Act (NFSA) > Specific Entitlements.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Nutrition Table' of NFSA/ICDS: Pregnant/Lactating (600 kcal, 18-20g protein); Children 6m-3y (500 kcal, 12-15g protein); Severely Malnourished (800 kcal, 20-25g protein). Also, the Maternity Benefit cash component (₹6000, linked to PMMVY).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When studying Acts, extract the 'Rights Matrix': Who is eligible? (Coverage %); Who is the head? (Women empowerment); What is the exact quantum? (kg/person vs kg/household); What is the redressal mechanism? (DGRO -> State Commission).
Multiple references state NFSA entitles 75% of rural and 50% of urban households to subsidised grains, directly addressing whether benefits are limited to BPL.
High-yield for UPSC questions on food security policy — memorize these coverage percentages and their implication (coverage >> only BPL). Links to questions on PDS reform, entitlement framing, and beneficiary counts.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 9: Subsidies > 9.5.3 National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 > p. 295
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > National Food Security Act, 2013 > p. 334
- Economics, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: Food Security in India > The National Food Security Act, 2013 > p. 49
Evidence describes conversion of TPDS into NFSA and a paradigm shift from welfare to rights-based approach, indicating broader entitlements.
Useful for analytical answers comparing policy frameworks (welfare vs rights). Helps in questions on legal entitlements, policy impacts, and scheme evolution; connects to governance and social justice topics.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 9: Subsidies > 9.5.3 National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 > p. 295
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > National Food Security Act, 2013 > p. 334
References mention beneficiary categories (e.g., AAY) and that states/UTs identify beneficiaries — showing implementation and multiple beneficiary groups beyond BPL.
Important for questions on scheme implementation, federal role, and targeting mechanisms. Prepares candidates to discuss identification processes, exclusions/inclusions and category-based allotments.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 9: Subsidies > 9.5.3 National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 > p. 295
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > National Food Security Act, 2013 > p. 335
Direct statutory provision in the NFSA making the eldest woman (≥18) the household head for issuing ration cards; central to the statement.
High-yield for governance/policy questions about social welfare design and gender-inclusive provisions; connects to questions on legal entitlements under welfare acts and gender empowerment in public policy. Learn exact phrasing and operational exceptions (when no woman ≥18).
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 9: Subsidies > The following are salient features of the National Food Security Act 2013: > p. 296
NFSA's scope and beneficiary classification determine who receives ration cards and are frequently discussed alongside procedural provisions like household head designation.
Important for questions on policy reach and implementation (coverage percentages, AAY categories); links to broader topics like food security, PDS reform, and fiscal implications. Useful for comparative and analytical answers on targeting and trade-offs.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 9: Subsidies > 9.5.3 National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 > p. 295
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > National Food Security Act, 2013 > p. 335
Operational reform related to NFSA that affects how ration cards are used across states, relevant when discussing issuance and use of ration cards.
High relevance for implementation-focused questions on migrant welfare and PDS delivery; connects NFSA provisions to technological and administrative reforms (biometrics, portability). Prepare by linking policy aims to implementation mechanisms and challenges.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 9: Subsidies > One Nation one Ration Card (ONORC): > p. 297
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Recent Reforms to Improve Public Distribution System > p. 337
Reference [2] explicitly names pregnant and lactating mothers and the food/cash benefits provided to them under NFSA.
High-yield for GS/Paper II questions on welfare schemes and maternal-child nutrition policy; helps answer questions on targeted beneficiaries and entitlements under social welfare laws. Connects to ICDS/Anganwadi functioning and reforms in PDS; useful for both direct-scheme questions and policy critique/implementation questions.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 9: Subsidies > Subsidies > p. 296
The 'Food Security Allowance'. If the state fails to provide grains, who pays the allowance and when? (Answer: State Govt pays cash if grains aren't supplied). Also, the 'State Food Commission' composition is a likely future target.
Apply 'Caloric Common Sense'. An average adult woman requires ~2000-2200 kcal/day total. A 'take-home ration' is a *supplement*, not a full diet replacement. 1600 kcal is ~75% of daily needs—too high for a government supplement. The real figure is usually 500-600 kcal. Also, 'Only BPL' (Stmt 1) contradicts the famous criticism of NFSA being 'too broad' (67% population).
Link NFSA to WTO & Agriculture (Mains GS3/GS2). The 'Public Stockholding for Food Security' is the core conflict in WTO negotiations (Peace Clause). Your domestic subsidy (NFSA) directly impacts India's stance at the WTO Ministerial Conferences.