UPSC Previous Year Question | Prelims GS | 2018

With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements: 1. The families coming under the category of 'below poverty line (BPL)' only are eligible to receive subsidised food grains. 2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card. 3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a 'take-home ration' of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 2
  2. 2 only
  3. 1 and 3
  4. 3 only

Answer

Correct Answer

2 only

Explanation

Statement 1 is wrong: the Act covers priority households (up to 75% of rural and 50% of urban population), not only BPL families. Statement 2 is correct: the eldest woman aged 18 or above is the head of household for ration card purposes. Statement 3 is wrong: the entitlement for pregnant women and lactating mothers is a meal (nutritional norm of 600 kcal), not 1600 kcal.

Topics: food security, national food security act 2013 provisions, polity and governance, social sector schemes and laws