What is Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)?
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) is India's targeted food security scheme for the poorest of the poor, launched by PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in December 2000. Under AAY, identified families (with yellow ration card) receive 35 kg of food grain per month at highly subsidised rates — rice at ₹3/kg and wheat at ₹2/kg (and coarse cereals at ₹1/kg). AAY covers 2.5 crore families nationally — those with no steady income, landless agriculture labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans, slum dwellers, and the destitute. Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, AAY beneficiaries receive grains free of cost (zero price) as the state and central government absorb the full cost. The yellow AAY ration card is distinct from the Priority Household (PHH) white/pink card.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) — Quick Overview
| Scheme Name | Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) 2026 — 35 Kg Subsidised Grain/Month for Poorest Families |
| Launched By | Government of India |
| Launch Year | 2000 |
| Benefit | 35 kg food grain per month FREE (under NFSA) — rice, wheat, and coarse cereals — for 2.5 crore poorest families (yellow AAY ration card) |
| Category | Agriculture |
| Last Verified | 2 May 2026 |
| Official Portal | https://nfsa.gov.in |
अन्त्योदय अन्न योजना (AAY) — सबसे गरीब 2.5 करोड़ परिवारों को 35 किलो अनाज/महीना — NFSA के तहत अब FREE। Yellow ration card। landless labourers, marginal farmers, destitute को। nfsa.gov.in पर details।
35 किलो अनाज/महीना FREE — चावल, गेहूं — 2.5 करोड़ poorest families — yellow AAY ration card
Benefits of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
35 kg food grain per month FREE (under NFSA) — rice, wheat, and coarse cereals — for 2.5 crore poorest families (yellow AAY ration card)
Who is Eligible for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)?
- ✓Families identified as the poorest of the poor by State Governments
- ✓Landless agriculture labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans/craftsmen
- ✓Households headed by widows, terminally ill persons, disabled persons
- ✓Primitive Tribal Groups, landless bonded labourers (released)
- ✓Destitute persons with no regular income or dependable means of livelihood
- ✓Urban slum dwellers with no regular income
- ✓Not already holding a Priority Household (PHH) ration card
Documents Required for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
How to Apply for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) Online?
- 1State Food & Civil Supplies Department website par AAY application form download karein
- 2Form ke saath BPL certificate + Aadhaar + category proof + address proof submit karein
- 3Block/Tehsil Food Supply Inspector verification
- 4District Collector / Food Supply Officer approval
- 5Yellow AAY ration card issued — valid at nearest Fair Price Shop (Ration Shop)
- 6Monthly: ration shop par 35 kg grain (FREE under NFSA) collect karein
Official Government Portal
Use nfsa.gov.in directly — there is no application fee, and no third party can speed up your approval.
🔗Apply on nfsa.gov.in