**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1927 in the Lok Sabha, concerning the category-wise allocation of foodgrains under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in West Bengal, particularly for Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and North Dinajpur. The response details allocations, beneficiary information, and measures taken to ensure timely distribution. This report is due for answer on February 11, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Foodgrain Allocation Authority:**
* The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) makes monthly State-wise allocations of foodgrains.
* The respective State Governments handle the district-wise allocation.
* **Allocation Details (Annexure-I):**
* Annexure-I provides district-wise details of allocation of food grains (wheat & rice) under PDS in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and North Dinajpur, since 2019.
* **Beneficiary Details (Annexure-II):**
* Annexure-II shows the category-wise details of beneficiaries (Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), Priority Households (PHH), Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), etc.) in the specified districts, since 2023.
* **Timely Availability & Distribution:**
* Monthly foodgrain allocations are planned well in advance.
* Movement plans are developed in consultation with the States/UTs.
* Lifting should be completed the month before distribution, according to existing guidelines.
* States/UTs can lift foodgrains up to six months in advance to mitigate disruption due to adverse weather conditions and inaccessibility.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Governments (West Bengal)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for district-wise allocation of foodgrains under the PDS.
* **Action Required:** Develop and implement effective strategies for the transportation and distribution of foodgrains in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and North Dinajpur, considering the hilly terrain and potential disruptions due to weather.
**Stakeholder: Beneficiaries (AAY, PHH, PMGKAY, etc.)**
* **Impact:** Access to allocated foodgrains under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
* **Action Required:** Stay informed about the allocation and distribution schedules to ensure timely access to foodgrains.
**Stakeholder: Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for making State-wise monthly allocation of foodgrains to all States including West Bengal.
* **Action Required:** Ensure monthly allocations are well in advance and movement plans are drawn up in consultation with the States/UTs.
Key Entities Referenced
West Bengal: The Indian state to which the allocations specifically pertain.
Public Distribution System (PDS): A government-run food security program in India that distributes subsidized food and non-food items to the poor.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution: The central government ministry responsible for managing food security and consumer affairs in India.
Darjeeling: A district in West Bengal, which is specifically named in the question about foodgrain allocation.
Kalimpong: A district in West Bengal, which is specifically named in the question about foodgrain allocation.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1927
TO BE ANSWERED ON IITII FEBRUARY, 2026
CATEGORY-WISE ALLOCATION OF FOODGRAINS UNDER PDS
1927. SHRI RAJU BISTA:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a) : the details of category-wise allocation offoodgrains under the Public Distribution System
(PDS) in West Bengal, particularly for the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and North Dinajpur;
(b): the total annual allocation of rice, wheat and other foodgrains to said districts since 2019,
district-wise ;
(c) : the details of beneficiaries in said districts, category-wise Antyodaya Anna Yoj ana (AAY),
Priority Households (PHH), Pradhan N4antri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), etc. since
2019; and
(d): the steps taken by the Government to ensure timely lifting, transportation and distribution
of the allocated foodgrains to the targeted beneficiaries in the hilly regions of Darjeeling and
Kalimpong districts?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBH Al BAMBHANIYA)
(a) & (b): Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) makes State-wise monthly
allocation of foodgrains to all States including West Bengal. The concerned State Government
makes the district-wise allocation. Details of allocation of food grains (wheat & rice) under Public
Distribution System (PDS) in districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and North Dinajpur since 2019
is placed at Annexure-1.
(C): Details of beneficiaries in these districts, category-wise, since 2023 are placed at
Annexure-II(d): To ensure timely availability of foodgrains in hilly, remote and difficult areas, monthly
allocations are made well in advance and movement plans are drawn up in consultation with the
States/UTs. As per extant guidelines, lifting is required to be completed in the month preceding
the month of distribution, enabling States/UTs to plan transportation and distribution efficiently.
Keeping in view adverse weather conditions and limited accessibility in such regions, States/UTs
are also permitted to lift foodgrains in advance for a period of up to six months to avoid disruption
during periods of inaccessibility.
88888ANNEXURE-I REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1927 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 11.02.2026 IN
THE LOK SABHA
REVENUE DISTRICT: North Dinajpur (Fig. in Quintal)
Commodity- WHEAT Commodit' '- RICE
Scheme Name NFSA/PMG KAY NFSA/PMG KAY
WHEAT TOTAL OWS RICE TOTAL
Year PHH AAY PHH AAY
2019-20 784436.29 70975.82 855412.11 0.00* 0.00* 142382.49 142382.49
2020-21 ** 1119721.81 85635.74 1205357.55 546013.73 21987.68 173785.55 741786.96
2021 -22** 1521646.75 98425.23 1620071.98 444250.38 18158.24 84918.94 547327.56
2022-23 757968.53 43393.41 801361.94 622688.54 17123.05 0.00 639811.59
2023-24 51 8026.28 34226.40 552252.68 197421.89 12602.33 88981.80 299006.02
2024-25 534755.34 36467.41 571 222.76 0.00* 0.00* 184297.50 184297.50
2025-26 492340.41 37910.42 530250.83 0.00* 0.00* 138457.60 138457.60
4
TOTAL 5728895.40 2 69871.30 812823.88 2693069.73
a Quintal
1 1
2019-20 204576.67 433464.93 638041.61 o.oo* 0.00* 11279.77 11279.77
2020-21 ** 182038. 1 1 355364.75 537402.86 157088.68 0.00* 6946.18 164034.87
2021 -22** 34081 5.44 314639.82 655455.26 66809.41 91610.27 777.24 159196.92
2022-23 75101.64 137786.01 212887.65 86634.58 0.00* 0.00 86634.58
2023-24 74485.57 221411.51 295897.08 48063.81 50408.90 20446. 19 11 8918.90
2024-25 79710.38 238282.27 317992.65 16283.45 0.00* 108915.10 125198.55
2025-26 71681.92 202728.83 274410.75 0.00* 0.00* 56715.14 56715.14
TOTAL 1028409.71 1 3 205079.62 721978.73
REVENUE DISTRICT: Kalim
IOn Win Quintal)
2019-20 0.00 4 0.00* 0.00* 2982.60 2982.60
2020-21 ** 0.00 80755.58 80755.58 0.00* 28164.44 593.53 28757.97
2021 -22** 0.00 133818.81 133818.81 0.00* 28350.56 123.56 28474.1 2
2022-23 0.00 59849.32 59849.32 41737.06 0.00* 0.00 41737.06
2023-24 0.00 71867.14 71867.14 494.28 14775.72 2193.60 17463.61
2024-25 0.00 74468.82 74468, 82 9782.92 0.00* 5535.12 15318.04
2025-26 1.63 56924.06 56925.69 10000.00 0.00* 13781.30 23781.30
TOTAL 1 519206.17 62014.26 71290.73 25209.70 158514.69
*State has utilized DCP stocks to fulfill its NFSA/PMGKAY requirements
**Allocation was made under PMGKAY during Covid period from April 2020 to December 2022ANNEXURE-II REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.
1927 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 11.02.2026 IN THE LOK SABH
Total
Year I District name I AAY P HH
DARJEELING 5,68,981 3,61 ,529 9,30,510
2026 DINAJPUR UTTAR 69,151 23,20,434 23,89,585
KALIMPONG 2, 19,476 29 2,19,505
DARJEELING 5,66,277 3,60,681 9,26,958
2025
D 68, 353 23,10,416 23, 78,769
KALIMPONG 2,1 8,004 29 2,18,033
DARJEELING 5,95,833 3,83,998 9,79,831
2024
D 72,503 23, 04,221 23,76,724
KALIMPONG 2,27,298 45 2,27,343
DARJEELING 6,02,504 4,05,461 10,07, 965
2023
L 67,966 22,55,983 23,23, 949
KALIMPONG 2,28,972 17 2,28,989