- Rice stocks are likely to fall below the buffer norm by 2.2 million tonnes (MT) or 16% if PMGKAY (The free ration scheme) is extended to the whole of the second half of the current financial year.
- The expenditure department of the finance ministry had expressed concern over the high budgetary cost of PMGKAY and is against extending the scheme beyond September.
- PMGKAY was launched in 2020 as part of covid-19 relief measure, 5 Kg of grains are distributed for free to more than 800 million beneficiaries.
- Static Knowledge:
- Union minister for agriculture and farmer welfare - Narendra Singh Tomar
- Union minister for food processing industries - Pashupati Kumar Paras
Question:
Q.1 Extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana(PMGKAY) will cost Rs _________.a. 80,000 crore
b. 70,000 crore
c. 90,000 crore
d. 50,000 crore
