India’s National Food Security Act (NFSA): Early Experiences

In September 2013, the Parliament of India passed the National Food Security Act (NFSA) that made ‘right to food’ a legal entitlement for approximately three-fourths of the rural population and half of the urban population of India. Besides ensuring access to highly subsidised foodgrain, NFSA also made maternity benefits and nutrition for children aged six months to 14 years a legal entitlement. While it is too early to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of NFSA, this paper attempts to document its rollout and to discuss important innovations and challenges emerging from NFSA’s early experiences in different states and union territories (UTs).