Cabinet prolongs sugar subsidy for 1.9 crore impoverished families by two years

In a decision made on Thursday, the Cabinet granted a two-year extension until March 2026 for the Antyodya Anna Yojna (AAY) families, facilitated through the Public Distribution Scheme (PDS). Consequently, the government will persist in providing a subsidy of Rs 18.5 per kg per month for sugar to AAY families in participating states.

This extension is anticipated to benefit approximately 1.89 crore AAY families. The government stated that this approval is poised to extend benefits exceeding Rs 1,850 crore during the period of the 15th Finance Commission, spanning from 2020–21 to 2025–26.

While the Center continues to offer free rations under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna, these measures are complemented by the sale of ‘Bharat Atta,’ ‘Bharat Dal,’ tomatoes, and onions at reasonable prices through government-backed cooperatives. To date, around 3 lakh metric tons of Bharat Dal and approximately 2.4 lakh metric tons of Bharat Atta have been sold, providing significant advantages to consumers.