Antyodaya Anna Yojana 2025: All Informative Details About It

The Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), launched by the Government of India, is a crucial scheme that provides food grains at affordable rates to the poorest and most deprived sections of the country. This scheme was created with the poorest families in mind, specifically those living below the poverty line (BPL). Its purpose is to ensure that even the “last person in the line” gets a full meal.

This scheme was launched on 25 December 2000 by the then Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It was initially implemented for the rural poor, but later it was also extended to the urban poor and other marginalised sections. Let us know its benefits, objectives and application process, etc.

Overview: Antyodaya Anna Scheme

Description	Information
Scheme Name	Antyodaya Anna Yojana
Beneficiaries	Extremely poor families living below the poverty line
Rates	Wheat – ₹2/kg, Rice – ₹3/kg
Benefit	Ration per month (20 kg wheat + 15 kg rice)
Application Process	Online & Offline
Official Site	https://mahafood.gov.in/

Objectives Of Antyodaya Anna Scheme

Anna Yojana (AAY) is an ambitious Public Distribution System (PDS) based scheme of the Central Government, which provides food grains at extremely subsidised rates to the poorest families of India. This scheme aims to ensure that no citizen sleeps hungry. Various states have also strengthened it further through their regional schemes, such as West Bengal’s Khadya Sathi scheme, which provides cheap or free ration to the poor of the state.

Main objectives:

Provide food grains at subsidised rates to the extremely poor families of the country.

To eradicate the problem of hunger and malnutrition.

Ensure food security.

To provide relief to the economically weaker sections.

Benefits Of Antyodaya Anna Yojana Scheme

• Antyodaya families are issued a special yellow-colored “Antyodaya Anna Yojana Ration Card.”
• 35 kg of foodgrains (20 kg wheat and 15 kg rice) per family per month.
• Wheat – ₹2 per kg, Rice – ₹3 per kg (these rates may be even lower in some states).
• Pulses, sugar, salt, oil, etc., are also available at cheaper rates in some states.
• Free ration distribution was done for some time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Antyodaya Anna Scheme Features

1. Target group: Only the poorest and neediest people benefit.
2. Food security: Effective in preventing hunger.
3. Fruit grains: Food grains at much lower rates than the market price.
4. Regular supply every month: Families get a ration regularly.
5. Central and State Government support: Scheme launched by the Centre but implemented by the State Governments.

Eligibility Criteria Under The Scheme

Eligibility Criteria of Beneficiaries availing benefits under the Scheme:

• People living below the poverty line (BPL).
• People who have very low monthly incomes and depend on others for food.
• Destitute, widowed women, aged, disabled and unemployed people who do not have any fixed income.
• Rural landless labourers, daily wage workers, ragpickers, and homeless people.
• Families who do not have cultivable land or who depend only on seasonal employment.
• Extremely poor people from SC/ST and backwards classes.
• Slum dwellers, homeless persons, and workers working in unorganised sectors like rickshaw pullers, sweepers, etc.
• Small and marginal farmers, landless agricultural labourers, etc.

Antyodaya Anna Yojana Scheme Documents

To avail the benefits of the scheme, the beneficiaries will need the following documents given below:

1. Aadhar Card
2. Income Certificate
3. BPL Certificate
4. Residence Certificate
5. Passport Size Photo
6. Copy of Bank Passbook
7. Caste Certificate (if applicable)
8. Family Details

Whether Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiary

Yes, the beneficiaries of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) are the families identified as the poorest of the poor below the poverty line (BPL) by the state government. They get 35 kg of foodgrains (wheat ₹2 per kg, rice ₹3 per kg) every month through the Public Distribution System (PDS). It usually includes landless labourers, widows, the elderly, the disabled and homeless people, providing them food security and relief.

Antyodaya Anna Yojana Apply Online

• First of all, go to the website of the Food and Supplies Department of your state. For Example: https://mahafood.gov.in/
• Click on the option like Online Services, Ration Card Application, or AAY Application available on the website.
• Choose the link to apply for a ration card under Antyodaya Anna Yojana.
• If you are a new user, register first.
• If already registered, log in with your user ID and password.
• Fill in all the information asked for in the application form correctly.
• Scan and upload the required documents like Aadhar Card, Income Certificate, Residence Certificate, etc.
• After submitting, you will receive a receipt/application number.
• Download it and keep it safe, so that you can check the status in future.
• After the application is submitted, the officials will check your documents and details.
• If found eligible, you will be issued an Antyodaya Ration Card (yellow).

Offline Process For Registration Under The Scheme

1. Take the application form from the local ration distribution centre, food supply office or block/municipal corporation office of your area.
2. In some states, the form can also be downloaded from the online website.
3. Fill the application form carefully and attach it with all the documents.
4. Submit the form to the interview or verification officer in the concerned department.
5. Your house will be surveyed by the department.
6. Your documents and status will be checked to see if you are eligible for the scheme or not.
7. If found eligible, you will be issued a yellow ration card of Antyodaya Anna Yojana.
8. After that, you will be able to get the prescribed quantity of cheap grains every month.

Antyodaya Anna Yojana Status Check

• Every state’s Food and Civil Supplies Department has a different website.
• Visit the website and choose an option like “View Ration Card Details”  or “Application Status”.
• Fill in all the required information carefully.
• After filling in all the information, click on the “Search” or “View Status” button.
• You will see the status of the application.
• If you have the application number, some states also provide SMS service.
• You can also ask for the status by visiting the nearest CSC or ration shop.

FAQ For Antyodaya Anna Scheme