Vidhi Codex

The National Food Security Act, 2013

The National Food Security Act, 2013

General201349 sections12 chapters

The National Food Security Act, 2013 legally guarantees subsidized foodgrains to approximately two-thirds of India's population. It applies nationwide, covering up to seventy-five percent of rural residents and fifty percent of urban residents, identified as priority households and Antyodaya Anna Yojana beneficiaries. The law regulates the distribution of rice, wheat, and coarse grains through the Targeted Public Distribution System, while providing free meals and nutritional support to pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children up to age fourteen. This legislation matters because it converts food security from a welfare scheme into a legal entitlement, aiming to combat hunger, alleviate child malnutrition, and ensure human dignity across the country.

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Chapter II PROVISIONS FOR FOOD SECURITY →

  1. 3Right to receive foodgrains at subsidised prices by persons belonging to eligible households under Targeted Public Distribution System.
  2. 4Nutritional support to pregnant women and lactating mothers.
  3. 5Nutritional support to children.
  4. 6Prevention and management of child malnutrition.
  5. 7Implementation of schemes for realisation of entitlements.

Chapter III FOOD SECURITY ALLOWANCE →

  1. 8Right to receive food security allowance in certain cases.

Chapter IV IDENTIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS →

  1. 9Coverage of population under Targeted Public Distribution System.
  2. 10State Government to prepare guidelines and to identify priority households.
  3. 11Publication and display of list of eligible households.

Chapter V REFORMS IN TARGETED PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM →

  1. 12Reforms in Targeted Public Distribution System.

Chapter VI WOMEN EMPOWERMENT →

  1. 13Women of eighteen years of age or above to be head of household for purpose of issue of ration cards.

Chapter VII GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL MECHANISM →

  1. 14Internal grievance redressal mechanism.
  2. 15District Grievance Redressal Officer.
  3. 16State Food Commission
  4. 17Salary and allowances of Chairperson, Member, Member-Secretary and other staff of State Commission
  5. 18Designation of any Commission or body to function as State Commission
  6. 19Joint State Food Commission
  7. 20Powers relating to inquiries
  8. 21No act or proceeding of the State Commission shall be invalid merely by reason

Chapter VIII OBLIGATIONS OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FOR FOOD SECURITY →

  1. 22Central Government to allocate required quantity of foodgrains from central pool to State Governments
  2. 23Provisions for funds by Central Government to State Government in certain cases

Chapter IX OBLIGATIONS OF STATE GOVERNMENT FOR FOOD SECURITY →

  1. 24Implementation and monitoring of schemes for ensuring food security

Chapter X OBLIGATIONS OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES →

  1. 25Implementation of Targeted Public Distribution System by local authority in their areas.
  2. 26Obligations of local authority.

Chapter XI TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY →

  1. 27Disclosure of records of Targeted Public Distribution System.
  2. 28Conduct of social audit.
  3. 29Setting up of Vigilance Committees.

Chapter XII PROVISIONS FOR ADVANCING FOOD SECURITY →

  1. 30Food security for people living in remote, hilly and tribal areas.
  2. 31Steps to further advance food and nutritional security.

Chapter XIII MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 32Other welfare schemes.
  2. 33Penalties.
  3. 34Power to adjudicate.
  4. 35Power to delegate by Central Government and State Government.
  5. 36Act to have overriding effect.
  6. 37Power to amend Schedules.
  7. 38Power of Central Government to give directions.
  8. 39Power of Central Government to make rules.
  9. 40Power of State Government to make rules.
  10. 41Transitory provisions for schemes, guidelines, etc.
  11. 42Power to remove difficulties.
  12. 43Utilisation of institutional mechanism for other purposes.
  13. 44Force Majeure.

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