**Executive Summary**
The Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD), Government of India, showcased AI-enabled and digital innovations transforming the Public Distribution System (PDS) at the India-AI Impact Summit and Expo 2026 from February 17th to 19th, 2026. The exhibition, open to the public, features innovations like Grain ATMs, Smart Warehouse Solutions, and Route Optimisation Functions. The initiative underscores India's commitment to leveraging AI and digital technologies to strengthen food security.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Exhibition Details:**
* The exhibition is open to the public from February 17th to 19th, 2026, between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
* Location: Hall No. 5, First Floor, Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
* **AI Integration in PDS:**
* AI interventions have been incorporated across the PDS value chain, from foodgrain procurement to subsidy settlement.
* AI-driven systems are enhancing efficiency, improving accountability, and enabling real-time decision-making.
* **Innovations Showcased:**
* Grain ATMs: Provide rapid and accurate delivery of foodgrain entitlements.
* Smart Warehouse Solutions: Prevent food losses and improve storage efficiency using sensor-based technologies.
* Route Optimisation Function: Streamlines transportation, generates operational cost savings, and reduces carbon emissions.
* **Key Highlights of the Exhibition:**
* SMART PDS: Integrates ration card management, allocation, procurement, storage, transportation, fair price shop operations, biometric authentication, and grievance redressal.
* Anna Chakra: Al-based movement planning system optimises foodgrain transportation.
* Depot Darpan: A smart warehousing monitoring platform ensuring improved infrastructure management, hygiene standards, and storage safety.
* Automatic Grain Analysers: Digital quality testing systems enhance speed, transparency, and objectivity in procurement operations.
* Citizen-Centric Digital Platforms: Multilingual grievance redressal and citizen feedback system.
* **India-WFP Partnership:**
* The partnership continues to focus on improving people's lives and strengthening key Government of India schemes, particularly the PDS.
* **Hackathon:**
* A Hackathon has been launched to encourage innovative solutions aimed at addressing last-mile nutrition gaps.
* Three emerging startups are presenting their solutions at the Summit as part of this initiative.
**Impact Analysis**
**Beneficiaries (800 million):**
* **Impact:** Enhanced transparency, responsiveness, and impact in the delivery of food subsidies.
* **Action Required:** No specific action required, but they will benefit from more efficient and accessible food distribution.
**State Governments:**
* **Impact:** Improved delivery of food subsidies with greater efficiency and transparency.
* **Action Required:** Implement and adapt to the AI-driven systems for improved PDS operations.
**Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD):**
* **Impact:** Strengthening of their food security architecture and enhancing citizen-centric public service delivery.
* **Action Required:** Continue leveraging AI and digital technologies to improve PDS operations.
Key Entities Referenced
Public Distribution System (PDS): A government-run food security system for distributing subsidized food and essential items to the poor. The document highlights AI-driven transformation to this system.
Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD): The primary government body responsible for overseeing the Public Distribution System and related policies.
World Food Programme (WFP): A United Nations agency that works with the Indian government on food security initiatives, particularly in collaboration with the DFPD.
India-AI Impact Summit 2026: A summit showcasing the application of Artificial Intelligence in various sectors, including the Public Distribution System.
AI-Empowered Innovations for Public Distribution: A pavilion exhibition organized by the DFPD showcasing new AI implementations to improve the PDS.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Department of Food & Public Distribution
Showcases AI-Driven Transformation of Public
Distribution System at India-AI Impact Summit
2026
Exhibition Open to Public at Bharat Mandapam from 17–19
February 2026
Posted On: 17 FEB 2026 7:26PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD), Government of India, today showcased a series
of AI-enabled and digital innovations transforming the Public Distribution System (PDS) at the India-AI
Impact Summit and Expo 2026 being held at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
The exhibition pavilion on “AI-Empowered Innovations for Public Distribution” has been jointly
organised by the Department of Food & Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public
Distribution, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP).
The pavilion was inaugurated by Shri Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Department of Food & Public
Distribution, in the presence of Mr. Stefan Priesner, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, and
Ms. Elisabeth Faure, Country Director and Representative, WFP India, along with senior officials of the
Government of India and partner organisations.
AI Enabling Greater Responsiveness Across the PDS Value Chain
Speaking at the Summit, Shri Sanjeev Chopra stated that the Department is transitioning from ensuring
transparency in the sector to ensuring greater responsiveness, enabled by the integration of Artificial
Intelligence in operations.
He noted that AI interventions have been incorporated across the entire PDS value chain — from
procurement of foodgrains, storage and movement, to distribution and settlement of food subsidy claims
raised by States. AI-driven systems are strengthening efficiency, improving accountability, and enabling
real-time decision-making.
Shri Chopra further stated that it is gratifying to witness tangible results within a short span of time. The
deployment of AI is helping the Department deliver food subsidies to States more efficiently and serve
nearly 800 million beneficiaries every month in a more transparent, responsive, and impactful manner.
India–WFP Partnership Advancing Innovation in Food Security
Ms. Elisabeth Faure, Country Director and Representative, WFP India, highlighted the strong and
longstanding collaboration between WFP and the Department of Food & Public Distribution.
She stated that the partnership, spanning over two decades, continues to focus on improving people’s lives
and strengthening key Government of India schemes, particularly the Public Distribution System.Among the innovations showcased at the exhibition are:
Grain ATMs, which provide rapid and accurate delivery of foodgrain entitlements to beneficiaries
through fully digital and AI-enabled systems.
Smart Warehouse Solutions, equipped with sensor-based technologies to prevent food losses and
improve storage efficiency, thereby enhancing food availability and accessibility.
Route Optimisation Function, which streamlines transportation under the PDS, generating
operational cost savings and contributing to reductions in carbon emissions through more efficient
logistics planning.
Ms. Faure also informed that a Hackathon has been launched to encourage innovative solutions aimed at
addressing last-mile nutrition gaps. Three emerging startups are presenting their solutions at the Summit
as part of this initiative.Key Highlights of the Exhibition
SMART PDS:
The unified national digital backbone integrating ration card management, allocation, procurement,
storage, transportation, fair price shop operations, biometric authentication, and grievance redressal. Real-
time analytics dashboards enable data-driven policy decisions at both Central and State levels.
Anna Chakra:
An AI-based movement planning system that optimises foodgrain transportation by analysing demand,
stock availability, and logistics routes, reducing costs and transit time while strengthening supply-chain
resilience.
Depot Darpan:
A smart warehousing monitoring platform ensuring improved infrastructure management, hygiene
standards, and storage safety through structured inspections and technology-enabled oversight.
Automatic Grain Analysers:
Digital quality testing systems enhancing speed, transparency, and objectivity in procurement operations,
thereby improving farmer confidence.
Citizen-Centric Digital Platforms:
ASHA (Anna Sahayata Holistic Solution): Multilingual grievance redressal and citizen feedback
system.
SCAN: Intelligent document processing platform enabling faster and more transparent subsidy
claim settlement.
Annapurti Grain ATMs: Automated dispensing machines ensuring accurate, dignified, and
technology-enabled foodgrain distribution following biometric authentication.Dignitaries also undertook a guided walkthrough of the exhibition, including demonstrations led by an AI-
enabled robotic system showcasing live technology deployments.
The exhibition is open to the public from 17th to 19th February 2026, between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM, at
Hall No. 5, First Floor, Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
The initiative underscores India’s commitment to leveraging Artificial Intelligence and digital
technologies to strengthen food security architecture and enhance citizen-centric public service delivery at
national scale.
*****
IA
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