UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Why is the Centre revising the NFSA?

Q1. With reference to the entitlements and coverage under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Act provides coverage to up to 75% of the rural population.
  2. The Act provides coverage to up to 50% of the urban population.
  3. Priority households are entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month.
  4. Rice is provided at Rs 3 per kg under the Act.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. The National Food Security Act, 2013 is administered at the Union level by which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
  • B. Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development
  • C. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • D. Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Q3. With reference to the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It was launched in the year 2000.
  2. It targets the poorest-of-the-poor households.
  3. Each AAY beneficiary is entitled to a fixed 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month.
  4. It initially contemplated identification of about one crore families.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. Under the Targeted Public Distribution System, which one of the following categories of beneficiaries constitutes the group specifically identified as the 'poorest of the poor'?

  • A. Antyodaya Anna Yojana households
  • B. Priority households
  • C. Above Poverty Line households
  • D. Annapurna Scheme beneficiaries

Q5. Under the draft National Food Security (Amendment) Bill, 2026, what is the maximum quantity of foodgrains that a single Antyodaya Anna Yojana household can receive in a month?

  • A. 35 kg
  • B. 7 kg
  • C. 25 kg
  • D. 50 kg

Q6. With reference to the draft National Food Security (Amendment) Bill, 2026, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It proposes 7 kg of foodgrains per person per month for Antyodaya Anna Yojana households.
  2. The per-person entitlement for AAY households is capped at 50 kg per household.
  3. Public comments on the draft were invited till 13 July 2026.
  4. It was proposed by the Department of Food and Public Distribution.
  • A. 1, 3 and 4
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. Although the National Food Security Act is a central law that States such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala have opposed amending, the actual distribution of subsidised foodgrains through fair price shops is carried out exclusively by which one of the following?

  • A. State and Union Territory governments
  • B. The Food Corporation of India
  • C. The Department of Food and Public Distribution
  • D. The NITI Aayog

Q8. The following statements compare the existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana entitlement with the entitlement proposed in the draft National Food Security (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under the existing norm, an AAY household receives 35 kg of foodgrains per month regardless of its size.
  2. Under the proposed norm, an AAY household would receive 7 kg of foodgrains per person per month.
  3. Under the proposed norm, a five-member AAY household would receive more than 35 kg of foodgrains per month.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. With reference to the National Food Security Act, 2013 and its recent funding and reform proposals, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The provision of free foodgrains to AAY and priority households commenced on 1 January 2023.
  2. The extended free-foodgrains programme is fully funded by the Centre.
  3. As of October 2025, about 78.90 crore beneficiaries received free foodgrains under the NFSA.
  4. The Shanta Kumar Committee recommended increasing NFSA coverage from 67% to 90% of the population.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4

Q10. The High Level Committee that recommended restructuring the Food Corporation of India and reducing NFSA coverage to 40% of the population was chaired by whom?

  • A. Shanta Kumar
  • B. C. Rangarajan
  • C. Bibek Debroy
  • D. Ashok Dalwai

Q11. Under the draft National Food Security (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at removing intra-category inequities, exactly how many kilograms of foodgrains per person per month are proposed for Antyodaya Anna Yojana households?

  • A. 7 kg
  • B. 5 kg
  • C. 10 kg
  • D. 35 kg

Q12. The procurement, storage and distribution of foodgrains for the Targeted Public Distribution System is primarily handled by which one of the following?

  • A. Food Corporation of India
  • B. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED)
  • C. Central Warehousing Corporation
  • D. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)