**Executive Summary**
This document answers an unstarred question regarding the Depot Darpan Initiative, a digital self-assessment and monitoring platform aimed at enhancing the infrastructure and operational efficiency of food grain storage depots. The document outlines the objectives, functions, and the role of advanced technologies like IoT and CCTV. The response was prepared by the Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Depot Darpan Initiative:**
* Depot Darpan is a digital self-assessment and monitoring platform.
* Aims to enhance infrastructure and operational efficiency of food grain storage depots.
* **Warehouse Assessment:**
* Warehouses are assessed based on two main categories:
* Operational Efficiency (60% weightage): Occupancy, cost metrics (transit/storage loss, handling cost, demurrage, manpower expenses).
* Infrastructural Efficiency (40% weightage): Safety, operational, environmental, and statutory aspects.
* Each category is evaluated independently, and the warehouse receives a 5-Star rating.
* Aims to institutionalize self-evaluation of warehouse management, practices, safety, infrastructure, storage conditions, and financial performance.
* Mobile application provides access to senior officials of Food Corporation of India/Central Warehousing Corporation/Department of Food & Public Distribution for monitoring of rating of the warehouses
* **Savings and Revenue Generation:**
* Identifying process inefficiencies and implementing targeted interventions can yield savings in FCI-owned warehouses and generate additional income in CWC-operated warehouses.
* **Role of Technology:**
* The Department has undertaken a pilot project on Smart Warehousing Technologies in 150 Godowns of FCI and all the food grain warehouses of CWC, which includes CCTV Surveillance and IoT sensors.
* The technologies monitor key parameters: CO2 & Phosphine levels, fire hazards, humidity, unauthorized entry, and temperature in real-time.
* Depot Darpan is integrated with the already installed smart warehousing technologies in Godowns.
* CCTV and IoT technologies ensure:
* Real-time visibility
* Timely intervention
* Data-driven decision-making
* Standardized operations across all depots
* Advancements contribute to safe, secure, and efficient food grain storage and distribution.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC)**
* **Impact:** Improved efficiency and potential cost savings in warehouse operations through self-assessment and monitoring.
* **Action Required:** Implement and utilize the Depot Darpan platform for self-evaluation and monitoring, address identified inefficiencies, and leverage advanced technologies.
**Stakeholder: Senior Officials of Food Corporation of India/Central Warehousing Corporation/Department of Food & Public Distribution**
* **Impact:** Enhanced monitoring capabilities through the mobile application, allowing for better oversight of warehouse performance.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the mobile application to monitor warehouse ratings and performance, and take appropriate actions to improve warehouse management.
Key Entities Referenced
Depot Darpan Initiative: A digital self-assessment and monitoring platform to enhance the infrastructure and operational efficiency of food grain storage depots.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution: The primary ministry responsible for the Depot Darpan Initiative.
Food Corporation of India (FCI): One of the organizations where the Depot Darpan initiative is implemented.
Central Warehouse Corporation (CWC): One of the organizations where the Depot Darpan initiative is implemented.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 630
TO BE ANSWERED ON 3RD DECEMBER, 2025
DEPOT DARPAN INITIATIVE
'i'630. SHRI DILESHWARKAMAIT:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be
pleased to state:
(a) the objectives and functions of the Depot Darpan portal;
(b) the estimated financial savings and revenue likely to be increased from its implementation
at Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Central Warehouse Corporation (CWC) depots;
(c) the role of advanced technologies such as Internet of Things (loT) sensors and Close Circuit
Television (CCTV) surveillance in the Depot Darpan initiative; and
(d) the manner in which concerned technologies contribute to real-time monitoring and better
operational efficiency at food grain depots?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIM ATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a) to (b): Depot Darpan is a digital self-assessment and monitoring platform to enhance the
infrastructure and operational efficiency of food grain storage depots
The warehouses are assessed based on two main categories
a. Operational Efficiency (60% weightage): Occupancy, Cost metrics like
transit/storage loss, handling cost, Demurrage, and manpower expenses.
b. Infrastructural Efficiency (40% weightage): including safety, operational,
environmental, and statutory aspects
Each category is evaluated independently, and the warehouse receives a 5-Star rating based
•
on the composite scoring from both.
This is aimed to institutionalize a mechanism for self-evaluation on the status of warehouse
•
management, practices, safety standards, infrastructure, storage conditions, and financial
performance aiding in improving the existing gaps.
Mobile application provides access to senior officials of Food Corporation of India/Central
•
Warehousing Corporation/Department of Food & Public Distribution for monitoring of
rating of the warehousesThis exercise of identifying process inefficiencies and implementing targeted interventions has
the potential to yield savings in FCI-owned warehouses and generate additional income in CWC-
operated food grain warehouses.
(c): Department has undertaken a pilot project on Smart Warehousing Technologies in 1. 50
Godowns of FCI and all the food grain warehouses of CWC, which includes CCTV Surveillance
and IoT sensors for monitoring key parameters such as C02 & Phosphine levels, fire hazards,
humidity, unauthorized entry and temperature on real time basis for ensuring security and
efficiency in foodgrain storage. Depot Darpan is integrated with the already installed smart
warehousing technologies in Godowns.
(d): CCTV and IoT technologies transform depot operations by ensuring:-
1. Real-time visibility
11. Timely intervention
IiI. Data-driven decision-making
IV. Standardized operations across all depots
These advancements directly contribute to ensure safe, secure, and efficient food grain storage
and distribution
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