The Central government is likely to extend the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) by 3 months, Zee Business reporter Ambarish has learned. The Union Cabinet which is slated to meet today could approve the extension of the free ration scheme.

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Under the PMGKAY scheme, the government provides free ration to the poor. The scheme was launched in March 2020 to provide free 5 kg foodgrains per person per month to about 80 crore beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) to reduce their hardship during the lockdown period.

The scheme has been extended multiple times since then and is now valid till September 30.

The free grains are over and above the normal quota provided under the NFSA at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 2-3 per kg. 

Initially in 2020-21, the PMGKAY scheme was announced only for a period of three months -- April, May and June 2020 (Phase-I). Later, the government extended the scheme from July to November 2020 (Phase-II).

With the COVID-19 crisis continuing in 2021-22, the Centre had in April 2021 re-introduced the scheme for a period of two months of May and June 2021 (Phase-III) and extended it for another five months from July to November 2021 (Phase-IV). The scheme was again extended from December 2021 to March 2022 (Phase-V).

On March 26, the Centre had extended the scheme to provide 5 kg of foodgrains free of cost to the poor by six months till September 30 at a cost of Rs 80,000 crore.

The total expenditure under PMGKAY has touched nearly Rs 3.40 lakh crore.