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General Studies 2021 GS Paper III 15 marks 250 words Compulsory Describe

GS Paper III — Q13

What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating…

What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India? (Answer in 250 words)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

राष्ट्रीय खाद्य सुरक्षा अधिनियम, 2013 की मुख्य विशेषताएँ क्या हैं ? खाद्य सुरक्षा विधेयक ने भारत में भुख तथा कुपोषण को दूर करने में किस प्रकार सहायता की है ? (250 शब्दों में उत्तर दीजिए)

Q13 of the 2021 UPSC Mains General Studies GS Paper III, as printed
The question as printed in the 2021 General Studies paper
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Model answer

Written by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 250-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key.

The National Food Security Act, 2013, makes food security a legal entitlement rather than a discretionary benefit, giving eligible households a statutory claim on subsidised foodgrains. It covers 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population, about 81.35 crore persons, who receive 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month at ₹3, ₹2 and ₹1 for rice, wheat and coarse grains. The Act also provides maternity benefit to pregnant women and lactating mothers, and nutritious meals to children aged six months to six years through Anganwadis and six to 14 years through school mid-day meals, addressing both calorie and micronutrient needs. Delivery is supported by State Food Commissions, which advise and monitor implementation, grievance redressal, digitised ration cards, Aadhaar seeding of beneficiaries, and ePoS/Aadhaar authentication at Fair Price Shops.

Impact By making entitlements enforceable, the Act has reduced leakages, estimated at about 40% before digitalisation, and strengthened the PDS by improving accountability and reducing diversion. FAO SOFI 2022 shows undernourishment falling from about 21.6% in 2004-06 to 16.3% in 2019-21, while NFHS-5 records stunting declining from 48% in 2006 to 35.5% in 2019-21. Complementary schemes, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Saksham Anganwadi and fortification initiatives, have reinforced these outcomes in reducing hunger and malnutrition. Nevertheless, exclusion errors, quality issues and the pandemic’s disruption to school mid-day meals show that hunger and malnutrition are not fully eliminated. The Act has therefore materially improved food security, but its overall success depends on better targeting, quality control and stronger convergence with nutrition programmes.

What "Describe" is asking you to do

Give a full, ordered account of the thing named — its parts, stages or mechanism — in the sequence in which it actually exists or occurs. Most describe questions come from the science optionals, where the marks sit in correct technical detail and, where the stem says so, a labelled diagram.

Structure that answers it

One-line identification of the subject → the parts or stages in their real order, each with its defining detail → labelled diagram where the subject is structural → closing line on function or significance

Where marks are lost

Loose general prose where the examiner is ticking named parts, correct terminology and their sequence; and in the General Studies papers, turning to evaluation before the description is finished.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: Situation > Analysis > Measures: legal, institutional, developmental > Assessment. highlight: name the salient points > one line of substance each > close Full marks: Precise statutory details (67%, 5kg, rates) linked to specific hunger reduction outcomes.

Key points expected

  • Coverage of 67% population (65% rural, 50% urban)
  • Entitlement of 5 kg/person/month of foodgrains
  • Subsidized rates (Rs 1/kg rice, Rs 2/kg wheat, Rs 3/kg coarse)
  • Provision for mid-day meals and ICDS support

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. The answer Identify key statutory provisions and assess their impact on hunger/malnutrition.  · 250 words

    highlight— name the salient points → one line of substance each → close

    Must cover

    • Coverage of 67% population (65% rural, 50% urban)
    • Entitlement of 5 kg/person/month of foodgrains
    • Subsidized rates (Rs 1/kg rice, Rs 2/kg wheat, Rs 3/kg coarse)
    • Provision for mid-day meals and ICDS support

    Loses marks

    • Confusing NAFSA with PDS or other schemes
    • Vague generalities without specific statutory details
    • Ignoring the 'entitlement' aspect of the Act

    Earns more

    • Mention of National Food Security Commission (NFSC)
    • Reference to grievance redressal mechanism
    • Distinction between Priority Households and Antyodaya Households
    • Mention of 10% buffer stock requirement

    Extra mark

    • Citing specific NFSC data on coverage or distribution
    • Reference to specific state implementation challenges

Practice this exact question

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