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 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?

The correct answer is B (2 only). The National Food Security Act, 2013 covers two-thirds of the population through Priority and Antyodaya households, not only BPL families, so statement 1 is wrong. Under the Act, Priority households cover up to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population, and Antyodaya households are the poorest within that group.

Statement 2 is correct. The Act provides that the eldest woman of the household, aged 18 or above, is treated as the head of the household for issuing a ration card. This is meant to recognise women's entitlements within the household.

Statement 3 is wrong on the figure. The Act gives pregnant women and lactating mothers a free hot meal or take-home ration during pregnancy and for six months after childbirth, along with maternity benefit. The take-home ration is 600 calories and at least 18 grams of protein per day, not 1600 calories. The 1600 figure does not match this provision.

This links to the syllabus under welfare schemes, PDS reforms, and the debate on targeting versus universal coverage, a common Mains theme on exclusion and inclusion errors.

Trap: Aspirants assume the Act covers only BPL families, or pick up a wrong calorie figure from a different scheme.