Free Ration Scheme 2026 — PMGKAY Extended to December 2028 | 5kg Free Grains Monthly: 5kg free food grains every month per NFSA-eligible person, through Fair Price Shops — extended for 5 years till December 2028.Free Grains / Month: 5 kg per person. Beneficiaries: 81.35 Crore. Scheme Duration: Till Dec 2028. Total 5-yr Budget: ₹11.8 Lakh Cr.The Free Ration Scheme is the popular name for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) — a national food security programme that gives 5 kg of free food grains (rice or wheat) every month to every person covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
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Active SchemeUpdated: May 2026
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Free Ration Scheme 2026 — PMGKAY Extended to December 2028 | 5kg Free Grains Monthly
5kg free food grains every month per NFSA-eligible person, through Fair Price Shops — extended for 5 years till December 2028
Free Grains / Month
5 kg per person
Beneficiaries
81.35 Crore
Scheme Duration
Till Dec 2028
Total 5-yr Budget
₹11.8 Lakh Cr
📖What is Free Ration Scheme 2026 — PMGKAY Extended to December 2028 | 5kg Free Grains Monthly?
The Free Ration Scheme is the popular name for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) — a national food security programme that gives 5 kg of free food grains (rice or wheat) every month to every person covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
PMGKAY was launched in April 2020 to support poor families during the COVID-19 lockdown. In January 2023, the scheme was merged with NFSA, making all NFSA food grains free of cost (earlier they cost ₹2–3 per kg). In November 2023, the Union Cabinet approved a 5-year extension from 1 January 2024, taking the scheme through December 2028 at a total budget of ₹11.8 lakh crore.
The scheme covers approximately 81.35 crore people — about 75% of India's rural population and 50% of urban population. There are two main beneficiary categories: Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), which is for the poorest of poor families, and Priority Household (PHH), which covers other NFSA-eligible families.
✅Eligibility
Card HolderMust have a valid NFSA ration card — AAY or PHH category
Income / StatusFamily must qualify under National Food Security Act 2013 criteria — varies by state
AAY CategoryPoorest families: landless labourers, marginal farmers, destitute, disabled persons, single-women-headed households, primitive tribal groups
PHH CategoryOther priority households below NFSA income threshold, identified by state government
DocumentsAadhaar of all family members, ration card linked to family ID
State Rules ApplyEach state government identifies its NFSA beneficiaries within central guidelines
Free Ration Scheme At a Glance
5 kg
Free grains / person / month
81.35 Cr
Total beneficiaries
Dec 2028
Scheme valid till
₹11.8 L Cr
5-year total budget
📋AAY vs PHH — What's the Difference?
Under the National Food Security Act, ration card holders are classified into two main categories. Both get free food grains, but the quantity and entitlement differ.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) is for the poorest of poor households — landless agricultural labourers, marginal farmers, destitute persons, disabled persons, primitive tribal groups, and single-woman-headed households. AAY families receive 35 kg of free food grains per family per month, regardless of family size.
Priority Household (PHH) covers other families below the NFSA income threshold, as identified by each state government. PHH beneficiaries receive 5 kg of free food grains per person per month — so a family of five gets 25 kg total.
Until January 2023, both categories paid heavily subsidised rates: ₹3 per kg for rice, ₹2 per kg for wheat, ₹1 per kg for coarse grains. After the PMGKAY-NFSA merger, all of this became fully free.
Quantity by Beneficiary Type
Quantity by Beneficiary Type
AAY (POOREST) · YOURS
35 kg
free / family / month
PHH (PRIORITY)
5 kg
free / person / month
PHH FAMILY OF 5
25 kg
free / month
EARLIER (PRE-2023)
₹3/kg
rice was subsidised
Do You Qualify for Free Ration?
Do You Qualify for Free Ration?
You qualify if
- You have an AAY or PHH ration card under NFSA
- Family income within your state's NFSA threshold
- All family members' Aadhaar linked to ration card
- Active ration card (not blocked or cancelled)
- Resident of the state where card is issued (or use One Nation One Ration Card)
- No duplicate ration cards across states
You won't qualify if
- You hold only an APL (Above Poverty Line) card — most states do not include APL in free ration
- Family is a government employee or income tax payer in many states
- Family owns more than 5 acres of land (varies by state)
- Family owns a four-wheeler (state-dependent)
- Ration card was cancelled due to non-use or Aadhaar mismatch
- Did not respond to recent eKYC drive — card may be inactive
How to Get Your Free Ration
How to Get Your Free Ration
1
Valid Ration Card
AAY or PHH, Aadhaar-linked
2
Visit Fair Price Shop
Locate via nfsa.gov.in
3
Biometric Verification
ePOS Aadhaar check
4
Collect Grains
Receive your monthly free quota
One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) — collect anywhere in India
Under ONORC, you can collect your free ration at any Fair Price Shop across India using the same ration card. So a migrant worker from Bihar can collect grains in Mumbai or Bengaluru without changing the card. Check the ONORC portal at impds.nic.in for portability details.
Documents to Carry to FPS
Documents to Carry to FPS
Original Ration Card
AAY or PHH category
Aadhaar Card
of the person collecting
Family Members Aadhaar
linked to ration card
Family ID (if applicable)
state-issued ID like Samagra in MP
⚠️What to Do If You Are Denied Free Ration
Despite being eligible, some beneficiaries are denied free ration at Fair Price Shops. The most common reasons are biometric failure, ePOS machine issues, or shop dealer claims that stock is unavailable.
If denied, ask the FPS dealer for a written denial slip stating the reason. Without this, your complaint will be difficult to file. By law, every FPS dealer must issue this slip when refusing service.
File a complaint by calling the national PDS helpline 1967 (toll-free), or your state's PDS helpline. You can also file an online grievance at the state PDS portal (every state has one) or visit your District Supply Officer.
If your biometric is failing repeatedly, ask the dealer to use the manual override (OTP-based authentication). If your ration card is showing 'inactive', visit the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) or Mee Seva centre to update your eKYC.
PMGKAY — Key Milestones
PMGKAY — Key Milestones
APRIL 2020
PMGKAY launched
During COVID-19 lockdown — initially 3 months, extended multiple times
JANUARY 2023
Merged with NFSA
All NFSA grains became free — subsidy of ₹2-3/kg removed
NOVEMBER 2023
5-year extension approved
Union Cabinet extends PMGKAY from Jan 2024 to Dec 2028
DECEMBER 2028
Current end date
₹11.8 lakh crore total budget allocated for this period
₹11.8 L Cr
Total 5-year budget allocation
From 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2028 — making PMGKAY one of the world's largest food security programmes. Average ₹2.36 lakh crore per year, fully borne by the central government.
📝How to Apply for an NFSA Ration Card
You cannot directly apply for PMGKAY — it is automatic for all NFSA cardholders. To benefit, you must first hold a valid AAY or PHH ration card. New ration cards are issued by your state government, not the central government.
The process varies slightly by state, but generally involves: applying online on your state PDS / food department portal (or offline at the nearest Tehsil / Mandal office), submitting Aadhaar of all family members, address proof, income certificate, and a passport-sized photo of the head of household, and waiting for verification by the local revenue / supply officer.
Common state portals: AePDS (Andhra Pradesh) at epos.ap.gov.in, FCS (Uttar Pradesh) at fcs.up.gov.in, e-Sampark (Bihar), Annapurna (Maharashtra). Search your state name + 'ration card apply' to find the right portal.
After approval, your card category (AAY or PHH) is decided by your reported income, family size, and state-specific criteria. If you believe you should be AAY (poorest category) but were placed in PHH, you can appeal at the District Supply Officer.
Do not pay anyone to get a ration card or to receive your free ration
Ration cards are issued free by the state government. Free grains under PMGKAY are fully free at every Fair Price Shop in India. If anyone — agent, dealer, or middleman — asks for money in cash to issue a card, register you, or release your monthly grains, it is a scam. Report it on helpline 1967 immediately.
📝How to Apply
1
Get a valid NFSA ration card
Apply at your state PDS portal or Tehsil office. You need Aadhaar of all family members, address proof, and an income certificate. State officials decide your AAY or PHH category based on income and family details.
2
Link Aadhaar of every family member to the ration card
All members listed on the card must have their Aadhaar seeded. Visit your nearest Fair Price Shop or Common Service Centre with everyone's Aadhaar for linking. Complete eKYC if asked.
3
Locate your Fair Price Shop
Visit nfsa.gov.in and use the FPS locator. Your card is tagged to a specific shop, but under ONORC you can collect from any FPS in India if travelling or migrant.
4
Collect your monthly free ration
Visit the FPS during the open window (usually first 15 days of the month). Biometric authentication is done on the ePOS machine. Receive 5 kg per person (PHH) or 35 kg per family (AAY) free.
ℹ️PMGKAY (Free Ration Scheme) has been extended to 31 December 2028. All NFSA grains are free of cost — no payment is required at any Fair Price Shop. If denied, call helpline 1967.
📅Important Dates & Schedule
Scheme LaunchedApril 2020 (COVID-19 response)
Merged with NFSAJanuary 2023 — all NFSA grains became free
Current Extension Start1 January 2024
Current End Date31 December 2028 (5-year extension)
Distribution WindowUsually first 15 days of each month at FPS
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❓Frequently Asked Questions
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📋 Official Sources & Verification
Information verified against official government portals and gazette notifications. Read our editorial process.
AK
Researched & verified from official sources
Last reviewed
May 2026
May 2026