On February 28, 2020, it was reported that the central government’s think tank, NITI Aayog, in a discussion paper recommended a revision in the coverage of urban and rural populations under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 to generate annual savings of Rs 47,229 crores spent on food subsidies. It has recommended that the coverage of rural population be reduced from 75% to 60% and that of urban population from 50% to 40%.
A couple of days later, Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey clarified that once the new census data was available, the Centre might consider revising the number of people who get subsidised food grains under the NFSA and that the Food Ministry has had discussions on the recommendations made by NITI Aayog.
These recommendations have been made at a time when farmers from across the country have been agitating on the borders of Delhi against the three farm laws
— source newsclick.in | Shinzani Jain | 18 Mar 2021