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    India is not in favour of extending blanket exemptions from export restrictions under the aegis of the WTO on food grains purchased for the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) as it would restrict its policy space to deal with domestic food security concerns, an official statement said on Saturday. In the agriculture sector, the proponents on export restrictions are seeking outcome on two issues - exemption of food material purchased for non-commercial humanitarian purposes by the WFP from the application of export restrictions, and advance notification of export restrictive measures. These issues would figure in the 12th ministerial conference (MC) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), beginning here from June 12. MC is the highest decision making body of the 164-member organisation. It is meeting after a gap of four years. The Indian delegation at the conference is headed by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Discussions on the agri sector are significant in the WTO as the supply chain of food grains in the global markets has been affected due to the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Under the WTO rules, members can temporarily impose export prohibitions or restrictions to prevent or relieve critical shortages of food material or other products essential to the country.

    Consider the following Statements about NFSA and choose the option with correct Statements.

    (I)- The NFSA Act covers about two-thirds of the entire Indian population.

    (II)- AAY households encompass the households headed by widows or disabled persons or persons aged 60 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support. And they are part of NFSA’s beneficiaries list.

    (III)- Priority Households (PHH) is a category of NFSA beneficiaries those who are nor registered poor, neither hold ration cards.

    A Only I Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    B I & II Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    C Only III Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    D I, II, & III Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    E I & III Correct Answer Incorrect Answer

    Solution

    The Act covers two-thirds of the entire population under two categories of beneficiaries: Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households Priority Households (PHH) AAY households encompass the households headed by widows or disabled persons or persons aged 60 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support. It usually takes into account the households of those below the poverty line too. It also includes support for women and children. NFSA gives the right to receive food-grains at subsidized prices by people belonging to eligible households, i.e., the PHH. A major section of the ration cardholders in the priority sector comes under this category. This is an effort to alleviate poverty. The work of identification of eligible households within the coverage under TPDS determined for each state is to be done by the states and the UTs.

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