Policy: India

1964: The Food Corporation of India was set up to fulfil the government’s food policy objectives.

2007: The National Development Council (NDC) adopted a resolution to launch a Food Security Mission comprising rice, wheat and pulses to increase the production of rice by 10 million tons, wheat by 8 million tons and pulses by 2 million tons by the end of the Eleventh Plan (2011-12). Accordingly, a National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was launched in October 2007. It is being continued with new targets of additional production of food grains of 25 million tons of food grains comprising of 10 million tons rice, 8 million tons of wheat, 4 million tons of pulses and 3 million tons of coarse cereals by the end of 12th Five Year Plan.

2011: The National Food Security Bill was introduced in Parliament (Lok Sabha). According to the Lok Sabha committee report, “Food security means availability of sufficient foodgrains to meet the domestic demand as well as access, at the individual level, to adequate quantities of food at affordable prices.” The bill marked a shift in addressing the problem of food security “from the current welfare approach to a right based approach.” See report of expert committee, final report of standing committee .

2013: NFSB promulgated as a presidential ordinance (NFS Ordinance), and enacted as law on September 12, 2013, aiming to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two thirds of India’s 1.2 billion people. See NFSB introduced Lok Sabha, passed Lok Sabha, NFS Act.