Parliament Question: Distribution of Foodgrains to Poor

**Executive Summary** This document is the answer provided to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1691 on the distribution of foodgrains to the poor, scheduled for December 10th, 2025. It details the roles of central and state governments in the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, focusing on distribution and storage of foodgrains. It further provides storage capacity details for Bihar. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Responsibilities under TPDS (NFSA, 2013):** * Central Government: Responsible for procurement, allocation, and transportation of foodgrains to designated depots of the Food Corporation of India (FCI). * State/UT Governments: Responsible for allocation within States/UTs, identification of eligible beneficiaries, issuance of ration cards, distribution of foodgrains under TPDS, issuance of licenses to Fair Price Shop dealers, and supervision of FPSs. * **Foodgrain Storage:** * The Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) through FCI primarily stores wheat and rice for PDS operation and to maintain buffer stock. * Bihar is a Decentralized Procurement (DCP) State where the state government procures, stores, and distributes foodgrains as per NFSA/Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) requirements. * As of 01.11.2025, Bihar has 13.43 LMT of covered storage capacity available with FCI and 10.13 LMT with state agencies. * **Capacity Augmentation:** * DFPD assesses and monitors storage capacity, creating/hiring capacities through various schemes, including: 1. Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme 2. Central Sector Scheme (CSS) 2017-25 3. Construction of Silos under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode 4. Hiring of godown from Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC)/State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs)/State Agencies 5. Hiring of godown through Private Warehousing Scheme (PWS). 6. Creation of godowns under Asset Monetization 7. Covered & Plinth (CAP) Hiring Scheme -2025 8. Modified PEG scheme for NE & Hilly states with longer guarantee period of 15 years * DFPD is augmenting storage capacity in Bihar through: 1. Construction of SILOs under PPP mode 2. Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme 3. Asset Monetization Scheme * **State Government Responsibility:** * The concerned State Govt. is responsible for implementation and monitoring of the schemes, ensuring food security to targeted beneficiaries, and maintaining a robust public distribution system to ensure smooth distribution of food grains. **Impact Analysis** **Stakeholder: Central Government** * **Impact:** Accountable for procurement, allocation, and transportation of foodgrains to FCI depots. * **Action Required:** Continue to fulfill responsibilities related to the National Food Security Act. **Stakeholder: State/UT Governments** * **Impact:** Responsible for allocation and distribution of foodgrains within their territories, identifying beneficiaries, and licensing Fair Price Shops. * **Action Required:** Ensure efficient distribution of foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries and monitor the functioning of the public distribution system. **Stakeholder: Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD)** * **Impact:** Oversees foodgrain storage and implements schemes to augment capacity. * **Action Required:** Continue assessing storage needs, implementing capacity-building schemes, and monitoring the overall storage and distribution process. **Stakeholder: Food Corporation of India (FCI)** * **Impact:** Handles the storage of wheat and rice for PDS operation and to maintain buffer stock. * **Action Required:** Maintain adequate storage capacity and efficiently manage foodgrain stocks. **Stakeholder: Beneficiaries (The Poor)** * **Impact:** Reliant on the effective operation of the TPDS to receive foodgrains. * **Action Required:** Register for and utilize the TPDS program to receive allocated foodgrains.

Key Entities Referenced