The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, was introduced to provide affordable food to two-thirds of India’s population. However, its implementation has been slow and inefficient. Many states have failed to establish grievance redress systems and state food commissions, leaving beneficiaries with no way to claim their entitlements. The government’s push to replace subsidized food grains with Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) has led to delays, confusion, and exclusion of many vulnerable families. Aadhaar-based authentication, which was meant to reduce fraud, has instead caused significant disruptions, preventing people from accessing food rations. Reports of starvation deaths linked to Aadhaar authentication failures highlight the dangers of a poorly executed system. Maternity benefits under NFSA also remain inadequate, leaving many pregnant women without essential nutritional support.
The NFSA sought to expand the Public Distribution System (PDS) and lower food grain prices, but its execution has been inconsistent. Many states have yet to complete the identification of beneficiaries, and Aadhaar authentication failures have denied food access to many deserving households. While the government claims DBT will improve efficiency, a NITI Aayog report found it more expensive and less effective than PDS. Despite these findings, the government continues to push for DBT expansion.
India continues to struggle with hunger and malnutrition, ranking poorly on the Global Hunger Index. Small farmers, daily wage laborers, and marginalized communities remain the worst affected. Weak implementation of schemes like the Mid-Day Meal and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) has further reduced the NFSA’s impact.
While NFSA is a crucial step toward food security, its flawed implementation has left millions struggling. The government must focus on ensuring accessibility, improving grievance redressal, and strengthening last-mile delivery to fulfill the Act’s true purpose.
Keywords: Food Security, Public Distribution System (PDS), National Food Security Act (NFSA), Malnutrition, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Aadhaar Authentication, Subsidized Food Grains, Nutritional Support, Grievance Redress Mechanism, Maternity Entitlements
RGICS Issue Brief: India’s National Food Security Act: Current Issues and Challenges
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