The CBDT vide Notification No. 12/2025 dated January 30, 2025, notifies the Joint Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution is authorized to share income-tax payer information. This data-sharing aims to identify eligible beneficiaries for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), a welfare scheme providing subsidized food to economically vulnerable groups. The move aligns with Section 138 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, to ensure targeted beneficiary identification.
“In pursuance of sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 138 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, the Central Government hereby specifies ‘Joint Secretary to Government of India, Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution’ for the purposes of the said clause in connection with sharing of information regarding Income-tax payers’ for identifying eligible beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).”
The Notification can be accessed at: https://a2ztaxcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CBDT-Notification-No.-12-2025.pdf
