Gujarat may be among the top three states in India in terms of per capita income, but figures released by the state government on Wednesday show that the number of families receiving free foodgrains under the state’s Food Security Scheme has tripled in the last four years, with the number of beneficiaries rising to nearly 40 lakh in financial year 2025-26 or FY26.
The number of beneficiary families has steadily risen from 3.06 lakh in FY23 to 9.21 lakh in FY26, according to figures released by the Gujarat government on Wednesday. The number of beneficiaries covered under the scheme rose from 14.49 lakh to 39.65 lakh during the same period. The foodgrain distribution data show that in FY26, beneficiaries received 8.76 lakh tonnes of wheat and 10.45 lakh tonnes of rice. The state also distributed 0.88 lakh tonnes of coarse grains during the year.
The latest food security figures come just months after the Gujarat government said the state’s per capita income crossed the ₹3 lakh mark for the first time. According to government data reported by businessline, in December 2025, the state’s per capita income stood at ₹3,00,957 in FY24 which was higher than that of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh and marginally lower than Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The expansion in coverage of the Food Security Scheme has, however, come alongside a decline in both the quantity of wheat and rice distributed and the expenditure on the two foodgrains. In 2022-23, the state distributed 35.36 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and rice and spent ₹116.78 crore on the two grains. By 2025-26, the quantity distributed had fallen to 19.21 lakh metric tonnes, while expenditure stood at ₹70.01 crore. This decline in expenditure amounts to about 40 per cent over the four-year period. The government release, however, does not explain the drop in expenditure or reasons behind the decline in the quantity of wheat and rice distributed.
Over the last five years, the mix of foodgrains distributed under the programme has also changed considerably. In FY22, wheat accounted for the larger share, with the state distributing 26.91 lakh tonnes of wheat against 12.57 lakh tonnes of rice. A year later, the pattern was reversed, with rice distribution jumping to 22.70 lakh tonnes while wheat fell to 12.66 lakh tonnes. The following years saw both wheat and rice distribution settle at lower levels, while coarse grains became part of the distribution mix. In FY24, the state distributed 9.20 lakh tonnes of wheat, 11.03 lakh tonnes of rice and 1.28 lakh tonnes of coarse grains. In FY25, wheat distribution rose to 10.48 lakh tonnes and rice to 11.35 lakh tonnes, while coarse-grain distribution stood at 0.84 lakh tonnes.
The government said beneficiaries have been provided wheat, rice, sugar, edible oil, gram and coarse grains either free of cost or at subsidised rates during various festivals and on a monthly basis, the release added.
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