Home India Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Parliament Question: Assessment of PDS Operations...
Date: 2025-12-03 Category: Not Applicable State: Union Government Country: India

Parliament Question: Assessment of PDS Operations

Issued by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution · Not Applicable

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Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

**Executive Summary** The document is a response to a parliamentary question regarding the assessment of Public Distribution System (PDS) operations in aspirational districts. The assessment was conducted between June and August 2025, and included a review of fair price shops, procurement centers, depots, and beneficiary feedback. A detailed statement of quantity of grains distributed through PDS and numbers of PMGKAY beneficiaries is laid on the Table of the House. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Assessment of PDS Operations:** * An assessment of PDS operations and the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was undertaken across 112 Aspirational Districts from June to August 2025. * Objectives of the assessment included the functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPS), procurement centres, depots, beneficiary feedback, and grievance redressal. * The assessment covered 113 Procurement Centres, 277 Fair Price Shops, 108 depots, and interactions with 458 PMGKAY beneficiaries. * **Areas for Improvement:** * Identified areas where further strengthening of procurement, storage, distribution, and grievance-redressal mechanisms would enhance overall efficiency. * In procurement, upgrading infrastructure and ensuring timely MSP payments to farmers are needed. * In storage, improvements in infrastructure, training for officials, and self-assessment tools are suggested. * In distribution, addressing connectivity issues, enhancing beneficiary awareness, providing e-receipts, ensuring timely commission payments, and ensuring minimum facilities at FPSs are recommended. * In grievance redressal, more integrated channels, improved functioning of Vigilance Committees, and AI-based solutions are needed. * **Data on Grain Distribution and Beneficiaries:** * Annexure-II provides a statement with details of the quantity of grains distributed through the PDS during the last three years, year-wise and State-wise. * Annexure-III provides a statement with the details of beneficiaries receiving various grains through the PDS, grain-wise, year-wise, and State-wise. **Impact Analysis** * **Central and State Governments:** * **Impact:** The findings and recommendations will inform future policy decisions and operational improvements related to PDS. * **Action Required:** Implement improvements in procurement, storage, distribution, and grievance redressal mechanisms. * **Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC):** * **Impact:** Opportunities for infrastructure improvement and staff training identified. * **Action Required:** Improve infrastructure, training on scientific storage practices, and create self-assessment tools for State storage depots. * **Fair Price Shop (FPS) Dealers:** * **Impact:** Recommendations for improvements to ensure timely commission payments and minimum facilities at FPSs. * **Action Required:** Ensure timely payment of commission and ensure minimum facilities are available at FPSs. * **Beneficiaries of PDS/PMGKAY:** * **Impact:** Efforts to enhance beneficiary awareness, address grievances, and improve distribution efficiency will directly affect access to food grains. * **Action Required:** Increased awareness and access to benefits. * **Farmers:** * **Impact:** Improvements in procurement operations will ensure timely payments. * **Action Required:** Ensure the upgradation of infrastructural facilities and timely payments for MSP.

Key Entities Referenced

Public Distribution System (PDS): A government-run food security system that provides subsidized food and essential items to the poor. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution: The central ministry responsible for overseeing food security and consumer affairs in India, including the PDS. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): A food security scheme to provide free food grains to the poor during the COVID-19 pandemic, implemented through the PDS. Aspirational Districts: 112 identified districts in India facing developmental challenges where the impact of PDS is being assessed. Fair Price Shops (FPS): Retail outlets through which subsidized food and other essential items are distributed to eligible beneficiaries under the PDS.
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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 41 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3RD DECEMBER, 2025 ASSESSMENT OF PDS OPERATIONS 841. SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI: SMT. ROOPKUMARI CHOUDHARY: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state (a) whether the Government has conducted any assessment regarding the operation of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in aspirational districts of the country, State and district-wise particularly in Sirohi district of Rajasthan, North-East India and various districts of Uttar Pradesh including Baghpat Lok Sabha Constituency; (b) if so, the objectives and key findings of the said assessment along with the list of aspirational districts of Bihar; (c) whether the Government has identified specific areas for improvement related to procurement, storage, distribution or grievance redressal under the PDS in the country, State and district-wise particularly in Chhattisgarh State and Tribal dominated districts State and district-wise like Palghar in Maharashtra; (d) if so, the details thereof particularly in respect of various districts of Uttar Pradesh including Baghpat Lok Sabha Constituency; (e) the efforts being made to connect other eligible persons to the said scheme; (f) the key findings and corrective actions of any assessment, survey or review conducted by the Central or State Governments regarding the operation of the PDS, availability of food grains, offtake/lifting, distribution, transparency, Aadhaar/e-PoS authentication and efficiency of the grievance redressal mechanism in the country particularly aspirational districts of Chhattisgarh; (g) the details of the quantity of various grains distributed by the Government through the PDS during the last three years, year-wise and State-wise particularly in respect ofHimachal Pradesh; and (h) the details of beneficiaries receiving various grains through the PDS particularly in respect ofHimachal Pradesh, grain-wise, year-wise and State-wise? ANSWER MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION AND MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI) (a) to (h): A statement is laid on the Table of the HouseSTATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) To (h) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 41* (1ST POSITION) FOR ANSWER ON 3RD DECEMBER, 2025 REGARDING ASSESSMENT OF PDS OPERATIONS’ ' (a) and (b): The Department undertook an exercise to assess the functioning of PDS operations and implementation of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) across all 112 Aspirational Districts between June-August 2025. The objectives of the exercise were to assess the i) functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPS), ii) review procurement centre operations, iii) evaluate the infrastructure and efficiency of depots under the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), iv) gather feedback from beneficiaries under PN/IGKAY and v) address grievances raised through CPGRAMS in these districts. In total, the exercise covered 1 13 Procurement Centres, 277 Fair Price Shops, 108 depots and interactions with 458 PMGKAY beneficiaries. The list of districts covered in the exercise including in the States of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, North-eastern states and Bihar is at Annexure- I. (c) to (f): Based on the assessment undertaken across all 112 Aspirational Districts, the Government has identified specific areas where further strengthening of procurement, storage, distribution, and grievance-redressal mechanisms would enhance overall efficiency of the Public Distribution System. In procurement operations, the exercise found that the majority of procurement centres were functioning effectively, however certain centres would benefit from upgraded infrastructural facilities and ensuring timely payments for MSP to farmers. In storage, while FCI and CWC depots largely met prescribed parameters, opportunities were noted for improving infrastructure, training on scientific storage practices for FCI and CWC officials and creating a self-assessment tool for State storage depots similar to the Depot Darpan portal. In distribution, Fair Price Shops generally functioned satisfactorily and beneficiaries reported high levels of satisfaction with e-PoS based delivery; however, in a small number of cases, connectivity issues and device failures led to delays or multiple visits. The exercise identified scope to enhance beneficiary awareness on PMGKAY, fortified rice, and portability; provide e-receipts to beneficiaries ensure timely payment of commission to FPS dealers and ensure minimum facilities at FPSs. In grievance-redressal, the assessment highlighted the need for more integrated grievance channels, improved functioning of Vigilance Committees and State Food Commissions and introduce Al- based solutions to gather feedback from beneficiaries. (g): A statement with the details of the quantity of various grains distributed by the Government through the PDS during the last three years, year-wise and State-wise is at Annexure- II. (h): A statement with the details of beneficiaries receiving various grains through the PDS grain-wise, year-wise and State-wise is at Annexure- III. je sescaseAnnl:xure-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) and (b) OF STARRED QUESTION No. 41* FOR ANSWER ON 03.12.2025 IN THE LOK SABHA List of Aspirational Districts covered state-wise: State District Andhra Pradesh Vizianagaram 2 Andhra Pradesh ) 3 Andhra Pradesh a Arunachal Pradesh Namsai Assam GoaIDara m) Assam 7 Assam a 8 Assam Baksa 9 Assam Darran ml 10 Assam mI 11 Assam 12 Bihar Sitamarhi 13 Bihar Araria 14 Bihar Purnia 15 Bihar Katihar 16 Bihar MuzaffarDur mt 17 Bihar ma 18 Bihar 19 Bihar Banka 20 Bihar She'ikhDura 21 Bihar a 22 Bihar Ga),a 23 Bihar ma 24 Bihar Jamui 25 Chhattjsgarh Korba a Rajnandgaon Chhattjsgarh Mahasamund a Kanker Chhattjsgarh Narayanpur 30 a Dantewada Chhattjsgarh Bij aDur a ma Kondagaon 34 a mt 35 Gujarat Dahod 36 Gujarat Narmada 37 Haryana Null (Mewat) 38 r Chamba 39 Jammu & Kashmir Baramulla40 Jammu & Kashmir Kupwara 41 Jharkhand Bokaro 42 Jharkhand Chatra 43 Jharkhand Dumka 44 Jharkhand East Singhbhum 45 Jharkhand Garhwa 46 Jharkhand Giridih 47 Jharkhand Godda 48 Jharkhand Gumla 49 Jharkhand @)agh 50 Jharkhand Latehar 51 Jharkhand Lohardaga 52 Jharkhand Pakur 53 Jharkhand Palamu 54 Jharkhand Ranchi 55 Jharkhand Sahibganj 56 Jharkhand Simdega 57 Jharkhand l 58 Jharkhand Khunti 59 Jharkhand Ramgarh 60 Karnataka Yadgir 61 Karnataka Raichur 62 Kerala Wavanad 63 Madhya Pradesh Barwani 64 Madhya Pradesh Chhatarpur 65 Madhya Pradesh Damoh 66 Madhya Pradesh East Nimar (Khandwa) 67 a Guna 68 Madhya Pradesh Rajgarh 69 Madhya Pradesh Vidisha 70 a Singrau li 71 Maharashtra Gadchiroli 72 Maharashtra Washim 73 Maharashtra Nandurbar 74 Maharashtra Osmanabad 75 Manipur Chandel 76 Meghalaya Ri Bhoi 77 Z Mamit 78 Nagaland Kiphire 79 Odisha Balangjr 80 Odisha 1 81 Odisha GajaDati 82 Odisha a 83 Odisha Kandhamal 84 Odisha Koraput 85 Odisha Malkangjri 86 Odisha 87 Odisha NuaDada ma 88 Odisha m) 89 Puniab90 Punjab Moga 91 Raiasthan ma Ma 92 DhoIDur ma 93 a 94 a Karauli 95 ma Sirohi 96 Sikkim Gyalshing (West Sil(kim) 97 Tamil Nadu RamanathaDuram 98 Tamil Nadu Virudhunagar 99 Telangana @shankar Bhoq)alapally 100 a KumuramBheen Asifabad 101 a Bhadradri Kothagudem m) 102 Dhalai 103 a Bahraich 104 Uttar Pradesh BalramDur 105 Uttar Pradesh I 106 Uttar Pradesh Chitrakoot 107 Uttar Pradesh FatehDur 108 Uttar Pradesh ml 109 Uttar Pradesh Siddharthnagar 110 Uttar Pradesh Sonbhadra 111 Uttarakhand Udham Singh Nagar 112 Uttarakhand Haridwar 88##8Annexure-II ANNEXtJRE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (g) OF STARRED QUESTION No. 41* FOR ANSWER ON 03.12.2025 IN THE LOK SABHA State-wi1se, Year wise Distribution of foodgrains (in MT 2023 [T 2024 2025 till date State/UT Coarse 'heat ! Rice 1g rains I Total Wheat I Rice brains IT otal 'heat Rice ;rains Total ANDAMAN AND 137 3,024 3,461 Ps1:::T:: : 5 3 4 3 ) 6 9 7 w 4 ) 2 3 1 5 3 5 3 ) 7 o 1 [ 47236 14,39,633 b8,865 1 1 4,58,497 ::#FDH;i;Ep1:: 2 9 7 2 7 1 7 ) 1 7 ) 3 3 1 17 ?o o 5 ] 7 ) 379063 = 173159489 b817342 ) 767 42,442 42,442 t 1:ir::StH A L = 5 0 ) 1 9 0 = 5 0 ) 1 9 0 = 5 1 ) 7A 8 3 [ 5 1 9783 E- 1- F F ASSAM 11,99,564 11,99,564 14,90,491 14,90,491 13,25,586 13,25,586 F BIHAR 10,41,220 41,73,458 - 152,1 4,677 F 1 0,87,100 1 3 9,41,498 150,28,598 9,98,939 3 i,88,017 41 ,86,955 CHHATTISGARH - 13,38,063 - 13,38,063 - 13,41,737 [ 13 ,41,737 -5 1 1 ,22,263 1 1 ,22,308 DADAR & = [ = : ) ) ) ) ) b:tRA N HII:I Ful1 1 4 8 8 14 3 9 3 1 5 8 8 1 1 5 7 315 236 169810 1 ,303 12,600 13,903 1- P 1 JJrIJJ_,111 2,85,196 11,88,276 14,73,472 3 ,17,261 2 ,11,136 5 ,28,397 12,69,269 1 ,79,034 4,48,302 GOA Fo 129,690 - 12 9,690 Fo 29,193 P 1 2 9,193 0 23,705 23,705 ;9,140 GUJARAT I-9,12,015 11,66,874 156,788 21,35,677 19 ,55,869 1 10,83,571 l1,51,579 21,91,020 18,19,117 8,26,608 17,34,865 HARYANA 7,28,445 !- 141,037 17 ,69,482 7 ,01,301 - b , 4 4,817 1 1 0 ,46,118 16,67,o 1 o 1,17,422 1 8,84,432HIMACHAL PRADESH 1 ,08,360 89,195 1 ,97,555 1 ,02,997 77,725 1 ,80,722 181 ,969 60,969 1 ,42,938 JAMMU AND KASHMIR 1,13,901 3,05,019 4, 18,920 1 , 1 6,663 3,08,427 4,25,090 l99,746 2,59,046 3,58,792 JHARKHAND 3, 16,302 13,09,299 16,25,601 3,54,643 12,82,283 16,36,927 3,01 ,893 10,64,384 13,66,277 KARNATAKA 20,81 ,372 4,12,564 24,93,936 20,96,229 F,01 ,286 24,97,515 16, 16,089 F,67,639 20,83,728 KERALA 1 ,62,574 8, 16,596 487 9,79,657 1 ,77,047 8, 19,771 116 9,96,834 1 ,41 ,653 6,57,906 7,99,558 LADAKH l4,3 17 3,486 7,803 4,290 3,462 7,752 13,483 2,833 6,316 LAKSHADWEEP 611 611 1 ,325 1 ,325 1 , 138 1,138 MADHYA PRADESH 1 2,72,253 19,31,154 2,814 32,06,221 15,08,165 18,38,784 33 ,46,949 13,97,705 13,36,206 ;40 27,34,751 MAHARASHTA 14,29,955 125,75,273 16,732 40,21 ,960 15,05,662 26,09,003 1 ,265 41 ,75,930 12,66,968 22,08,836 14,972 35,50,776 MANIPUR 127,919 27,9 19 MEGHALAYA 1 ,24,324 1 ,24,324 1 ,26,222 1 ,26,222 1 ,04,471 1 ,04,471 MIZORAM 46,379 46,379 46,687 46,687 38, 162 38, 162 NAGALAN D 71 ,297 71 ,297 72,084 72,084 59,740 59,740 ODISHA 15 22, 1 8,705 22, 18,710 1.710 22,22,057 22,23,767 13,450 18,37,974 18,41 ,424 PUNJAB6,37,593 6,37,593 1 8,77,366 1 - F 18 ,77,366 16,57,068 6,57,068 l- L 1 1 RAJASTHAN l26,07,589 26,07,589 25,65,551 25,65,551 120,76,672 20,76,672 1- P 1- 17,577 11 7,577 1- 11 9,770 11 9,770 1 SIKKIM 14,125 14,125 19,48,553 TAMILNADU 53,826 23,12,809 4,307 23,70,942 61,511 22 ,74,984 P,8 37 23 , 39,331 56 ,089 18, 90,091 F,373 1- 1- P 10 1 1 1 1 TELANGANA 12,07,709 12,07,709 12,25,778 12,25,778 10,46,500 10,46,500 F TRIPUM - 1,60,174 - 1,60,174 - 1,61,241 1, 61,241 - 1, 32,463 1 ,32,463 75,95,019 UTTARPRADESH 37,96,600 56,48,851 3,342 94,48,792 37,01,339 53 ,51,166 F, 71,394 1 94 ,23,899 31,39,278 42 , 91,460 1, 64,280 3,05,679 UTTAR4KHAND 1,25,397 2,OO,901 - 3,26,298 1,41,027 2 , 29,360 P 3 , 70,387 1, 16,278 1,86 ,940 P,461 F WESTBENGAL 15,40,228 23,10,641 - 38,50,869 1 5,51,516 23 ,28,144 38 ,79,660 12,99,814 19 , 50,501 32,50,3 15 Total Grand 1,51,40,525 3,33,40,829 s,55,077 4 ,90,36,431 1, 57,33,126 3, 29,78,337 13 ,60,473 5,oo ,71,936 1,33, 98,186 2,69 ,22,745 ho,37,991 4,13,58,922 Note: Distribution data for year 2025 is till Oct 2025 & Manipur state is not reporting distribution data from May, 2023 geRt SeAnnexu re-III ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (h) OF STARRED QUESTION No. 41* FOR ANSWER ON 03.12.2025 IN THE LOK SABHA State wise and Year Wise PMGKAY Beneficiaries: S.No. State Name 1 2023 2024 2025 ( as on date A 59,374 1 INICOBAR ISLANDS 6 1, 660 6 1 ,275 2,68,30,680 2 EANDHRA PRADESH 2,68,97,569 2,68,23,200 8,83,191 3 IARUNACHAL PRADESH 8,83,237 8,83, 172 ASSAM 2,29,02,389 2,3 1 ,58,866 2,47,94,442 8,38,00,818 5 IBIHAR 8,78,80,3 14 8,56,28,689 6 CHANDIGARH 3,23,354 3,55,674 3,55,348 7 ICHHATTISGARH 2,00,00,746 1 ,99,2 1 ,016 1,98,78,55 1 D 2,72,704 8 IHAVELI & DAMAN & DIU 2,68,463 2,65, 135 72,77,742 9 FDELH I 72,81,586 72,77,8 ][ 0 4,79,079 10 IGOA 4,85,754 4,75,594 3,83,90,798 11 IGUJA RAT 3,72,50,062 3,48,83,97 1 HARYANA 2,01 , 17,555 12 1 ,78,66, 1 88 1958988l826 29, 16,512 13 HIMACHAL PRADESH 53, 16,749 28,50,806 66,53,230 14 !JAMMU AND KASHMIR 66,47,484 67,35,202 2,63,99,419 15 iJHARKH AND 2,64,85,330 2,5 1,94,252 16 IKARNATAKA 4,04,21 ,534 4,0 1 ,93,000 4,0 1 ,93,208 1 ,50,61 ,242 17 IKERALA 1 ,52,26,706 1 ,47,6 1 , 1 32 18 ILADAKH 1 ,24,885 1 ,23,239 1 ,14,543 23,787 19 LAKSHADWEEP 23,456 239720 5,54, 18,818 20 MADHYA PRADESH 5,26,52,028 5,34,00,925 21 IMAHARASHTRA 6,65,71 ,685 6,84,32, 1 63 6,84, 1 8, 145 20,92,507 22 IMANIPUR 20,52,296 2191 1 >328 23 MEGHALAYA 21,14,904 2 1 , 16,248 21, 16> 184 6,96,396 l24 IMIZORA M 6,96,507 7,07,336 12,24,649 [25 INAGA LAND 11,64,722 11,62,808 3,23,92,303 126 ODISHA 3,25,02, 1 04 2,34,79,6 1 6 6,99,046 127 PUDUCHERRY 6,84,590 7,01 ,070 28 LPUNJAB 1 ,46,43,697 1 ,59,45,5 16 1 ,53,58,402RAJASTHAN 4,36,96,914 4,37,84,306 4,44,53,189 SIKKIM 3,83,502 3,81 ,502 3,77,248 AMIL NADU 3,60,35,078 3,65,07,636 3,65, 19,481 ELANGANA 1 ,92,27,039 1 ,91 ,75,502 1 ,9 1 ,99,5 75 RIPURA 24,42,730 24,35, 165 23,47,440 UTrARAKHAND 60,79, 1 77 60,73,150 60,53,44 ] UHAR PRADESH 15,04,20,384 14,87,91 ,087 14,71 ,83,826 6,02,04,95 WEST BENGAL 5,99,62,436 5,99, 12,883 Total 80,81,79.668 80,87,90,509 79,05,93,7'98 ###88

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