From 35 kg to 7 kg: Draft ration rule could cut grain for India’s smallest Antyodaya households

India's draft ration rule proposes replacing household grain allocation with a per-person formula, reducing the cap to 7 kg per person from 35 kg per household.

Small Antyodaya families (one to three members) would lose 20-80% of their current entitlement under the new rule.

Households with six or more members gain nothing as the per-person cap does not increase their total.

The government argues the change reduces inequity, but the draft disproportionately affects small families.

The proposal has not yet been finalized; affected households may face cuts if implemented.