Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2016, to be answered on February 11, 2026, was posed by MD. Rakibul Hussain to the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution regarding the distribution of foodgrains. The question inquired if the government had received complaints about substandard foodgrains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in Assam, details of such complaints, actions taken against officials/contractors, and proposed measures to improve quality and accountability.
The Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (Shrimati Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya) answered that no complaints were received regarding substandard foodgrains distribution under NFSA in Assam. The Department has formulated and issued a Quality Control Manual to maintain foodgrain quality from procurement to distribution under social security programs of Gol. The answers to parts (b), (c), and (d) do not arise in view of the answer to (a).
Key Entities Referenced
National Food Security Act (NFSA): Act under which foodgrains are distributed; central to the question about substandard foodgrain distribution.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution: The ministry responsible for answering the question regarding foodgrain distribution.
Assam: The state where the foodgrain distribution issues are being questioned.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2016
TO BE ANSWERED ON lITH FEBRUARY, 2026
DISTRIBUTION OF FOODGRAINS
2016. MD. RAKIBUL HUSSAIN:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a): whether the Government has received serious complaints regarding distribution of
substandard, damaged, fungus-infested or unfit-for-human-consumption foodgrains under
National Food Security Act (NFS A) in Assam;
(b): if so, the details of such complaints including the quantity of food grains rejected or
replaced;
(c): the details and the number of officials, transport contractors, storage agencies and Fair
Price Shop dealers against whom action has been initiated including suspension, penalties,
blacklisting or prosecution; and
(d): whether the Government proposes to introduce stricter quality checks, real-time monitoring
and accountability measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents and safeguard the dignity
and food security of beneficiaries and if so, the details thereoP
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a): No complaint has been received regarding distribution of substandard, damaged, fungus-
infested, or unfit-for-human-consumption foodgrains under National Food Security Act (NFS A) in
Assam. Additionally, it is also worth mentioning that, the Department has formulated and issued a
Quality Control Manual to uniformly maintain the quality standards offoodgrains from procurement,
storage and its distribution to the eligible beneficiaries through various social security programmes
of GoI.
(b) to (d): Do not arise in view to (a) above.
###88