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7 July 2026

Tamil Nadu CM opposes National Food Security Act amendment

The topic concerns a proposed amendment to the National Food Security Act, which is a significant piece of legislation directly impacting food security, welfare delivery, and federal fiscal relations between the Union and States.

1 min read Day 2 of 5 2 questions 1 prelims

Notes

  • The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, currently provides 35 kg of foodgrains per month to every household under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) category, regardless of family size.
  • A proposed amendment to the first proviso to sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the NFSA seeks to change the entitlement to 7 kg per person per month, subject to a maximum ceiling of 35 kg per household.
  • Critics argue the amendment would reduce food security for vulnerable households in states with smaller average family sizes, such as Tamil Nadu (average family size 3.54).
  • AAY beneficiaries include widows, persons with disabilities, the elderly without income, tribal families, landless labourers, and those with life-threatening illnesses.
  • The existing household-based entitlement is designed as a last-resort protection to ensure food security for the poorest populations.
  • Concerns have been raised that per-capita based entitlements may penalise states that have successfully implemented family planning programmes.

Part of a longer story

This is day 2 of 5 in Proposed amendments to the National Food Security Act, which has been running since 27 June 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

Questions

  1. Discuss the challenges in balancing uniform national standards for food security with the demographic variations across Indian states under the National Food Security Act, 2013. 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. Evaluate the efficacy of household-based versus individual-based entitlements in social welfare schemes. How can the government ensure nutritional security for the most vulnerable sections while addressing intra-category inequities? 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. Under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) as per the current provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013, what is the monthly foodgrain entitlement for a covered household?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-07-07/tamil-nadu-cm-opposes-national-food-security-act-amendment