National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 provides food and nutritional security to the population of India by guaranteeing access to quality and sufficient quantities of food at reasonable prices. It is one of the largest food security programs globally, which covers nearly two-thirds of India’s population. The eligible families are entitled to avail subsidized food grains under the Public Distribution System (PDS) under the Act. Priority families are given 5 kg of food grains per person per month at highly subsidized prices — ₹3 per kg for rice, ₹2 per kg for wheat, and ₹1 per kg for coarse grains.
The Act further makes provisions for nutrition support for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal schemes. The NFSA imposes legal responsibilities on the Central and State governments to provide food availability as well as implementation on a proper scale. It ensures transparency, accountability, and redressal mechanisms in the dispensation of food. In general, the NFSA is vital in curbing hunger, enhancing nutrition, and enhancing the right to food as a legal right in India.