Parliament Question: Criteria for opening of new PDS Shops

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4230 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18TH MARCH, 2026 CRITERIA FOR OPENING OF NEW PDS SHOPS 4230. SHRI MADDILA (,URUMOORTHY: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a): whether the Government is aware that despite significant increase in population and number of households in several areas including Andhra Pradesh, no proportional bifurcation or increase in the number of Fair Price Shops (FPS)/Public Distribution System(PDS) outlets has been made; (b) : the details of current population-to-shop ratio or other criteria prescribed by the Government for the establishment of a new PDS shop; (c) : whether any revision of guidelines is under consideration of the Government to reflect the increase in population and newly formed administrative units like districts and mandals; (d) : whether the Government has received any proposals from the State of Andhra Pradesh or its districts including Tirupati regarding the need for new PDS shops due to increased population and geographic spread; and (e): if so, the status of such proposals and the steps being taken by the Government to ensure equitable access to PDS for all eligible households? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRiBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a) to (b): Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) under National Food Security Act (NFS A), 2013 is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/ Union Territory (UT) Governments. The operational responsibilities for allocation of foodgrains within the States/ UTs, identification of eligible beneficiaries, issuance of ration cards to them, distribution offoodgrains to eligible beneficiaries under TPDS, issuance of license to Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers, supervision over and monitoring of functioning ofFPSs etc. rest with the concerned State/ UT Governments. State Government of Andhra Pradesh has taken measures to rationalise/ bifurcate existing shops and create additional FPSs. The sanction of additional FPS is being carried out district-wise, strictly based on criteria and prescribed norms such as the number of Ration Cards attached to each FPS (c) to (e): No such proposal is under consideration. Se SeRieSeSq