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 ?
Show answer
Answer: B. Statement 1 is wrong: the Act covers 'priority households' and Antyodaya families, not only BPL families. Statement 2 is correct: Section 13 makes the eldest woman aged 18 or above the head of household for ration cards. Statement 3 is wrong: Schedule II gives pregnant and lactating women take-home ration of 600 calories, not 1600. So only 2.
Watch for: The 1600 figure looks plausible for a pregnant woman's needs; the Act's take-home ration is 600 calories.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because coverage is not limited to BPL families.
- C. Wrong because coverage is not BPL-only and the ration is 600 calories, not 1600.
- D. Wrong because the calorie figure is 600, not 1600.
Source to check: National Food Security Act, 2013, Sections 3, 4, 13 and Schedule II
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.