Centre for Child and the Law (CCL) has submitted its comments to the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, Government of India, on the Draft National Food Security (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposes to revise the entitlements under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana. The submission draws on CCL’s ongoing work on the right to food, particularly on the National Food Security Act, 2013.

The National Food Security Act of 2013 is a comprehensive piece of legislation enacted to ensure food and nutritional security for all through a life-cycle approach. The response notes that nearly 13 years after its enactment, a thorough review is timely and appropriate. The proposed amendment by the Department of Food and Civil Supplies pertains exclusively to Section 3 (proviso to sub-section 1) of the Act, the primary scope of the submission made by CCL is restricted to Section 3; however, arguments have also been offered to strengthen Section 4, 5 and 6, Chapter II Provisions for Food Security. Suggestions made in the submission are supported by the rationale, evidence, available literature on nutrition science, and any other legal arguments grounded in judicial pronouncements. All the suggestions made are informed by the research undertaken at the Centre for Child and the Law, NLSIU and made with the sole objective of strengthening the law to achieve the purpose of ensuring food and nutrition security for all.

The detailed response from CCL to the Draft National Food Security (Amendment) Bill, 2026 can be found here.