**Executive Summary**
The document is an answer provided by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution in response to a starred question in Lok Sabha on February 4th, 2026, regarding the effectiveness of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and the Public Distribution System (PDS). The response details measures taken to improve reach and effectiveness, digitalization efforts, outcomes in terms of beneficiaries and portability, evaluations conducted, and funds released. A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **PMGKAY and PDS Implementation:**
* TPDS is jointly managed by central and state/UT governments. States/UTs are responsible for allocating foodgrains, identifying beneficiaries, issuing ration cards, and monitoring Fair Price Shops (FPSs).
* The government has established a robust mechanism for foodgrain distribution under PMGKAY to approximately 80 Crore beneficiaries via Fair Price Shops.
* **Digitalization and One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC):**
* 100% of ration card/beneficiary databases are digitized across all states/UTs, with 99.9% of ration cards and 99.2% of beneficiaries linked to Aadhaar.
* Beneficiaries can access entitlements at FPSs using their ration card or Aadhaar with biometric authentication.
* ONORC enables nationwide portability of ration cards, with approximately 3 Crore average monthly transactions. This allows beneficiaries to lift entitled foodgrains from any FPS of their choice using existing ration cards with biometric authentication.
* **Beneficiary Coverage and Outcomes:**
* As of February 1, 2026, PMGKAY covers 79.44 Crore beneficiaries monthly.
* Beneficiary data for Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Nabarangpur (Odisha) is provided for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
* 201 crore portability transactions have been recorded under ONORC to date.
* **Grievance Redressal and Monitoring:**
* Monitoring Institutions (MIs) have been engaged to evaluate NFSA implementation in different States/UTs. Reports are publicly available.
* Grievance redressal has been strengthened with toll-free helplines, Anna Sahayata (WhatsApp and IVRS-based system), and the Mera Ration Mobile App.
* Enhanced monitoring through CPGRAMS, with strict adherence to grievance disposal timelines, regular monitoring, and advisories to states.
* **Funds Released:**
* Details are provided for funds released to Maharashtra (including Palghar) from FY 2020-21 to date (as of 30.01.2026).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Beneficiaries of PMGKAY and PDS**
* **Impact:**
* Improved access to food grains through digitalized systems and portability of ration cards.
* Enhanced transparency and grievance redressal mechanisms ensure timely receipt of entitlements.
* **Action Required:**
* Utilize digital platforms like Mera Ration App to check entitlements, locate nearby FPSs, and lodge grievances.
* Link ration cards with Aadhaar for seamless access to benefits.
**Stakeholder: State/UT Governments**
* **Impact:**
* Responsible for operational management of TPDS, including allocation, beneficiary identification, and FPS monitoring.
* Required to adhere to grievance redressal timelines and enhance monitoring through CPGRAMS.
* **Action Required:**
* Ensure strict adherence to the 21-day timeline for grievance disposal under CPGRAMS.
* Promote uniform and timely grievance resolution, addressing high pendency levels.
**Stakeholder: Fair Price Shop (FPS) Owners**
* **Impact:**
* Responsible for distributing foodgrains to beneficiaries using e-PoS devices with biometric authentication.
* Must accommodate beneficiaries using ONORC from across the country.
* **Action Required:**
* Ensure e-PoS devices are functioning properly for biometric authentication.
* Facilitate access for beneficiaries under ONORC, allowing them to lift food grains from their shop.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): A food security scheme to provide free food grains to the poor.
Public Distribution System (PDS): A government-sponsored chain of shops entrusted with the responsibility of distributing basic food and non-food commodities to the needy at very low prices.
One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC): A scheme enabling portability of ration cards across India.
National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA): Indian Act of Parliament which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of the country's population.
Maharashtra: Indian state where specific aspects of the PMGKAY and PDS are being assessed and funds released.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 61
TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH FEBRUARY, 2026
EFFECTIVENESS OF PM(,KAY AND PDS
f*61. SHRI NALIN SOREN:
DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a): the details of the measures taken by the Government to increase the reach and
effectiveness of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and the Public
Distribution System (PDS) in the country including Dumka district ofJharkhand, Chhattisgarh,
Karnataka, Jammu-Kashmir, Telangana, Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituency of Odisha and
Tribal and Rural dominated Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh and Palghat district in
Maharashtra;
(b): the present status of digitalisation of ration cards and implementation of One Nation
One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme in all States and Union Territories including Dumka
district of Jharkhand, Jammu-Kashmir, Telangana, Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituency of
Odisha and Chhindwara district ofMadhya Pradesh;
(c): the outcomes recorded in terms of number of beneficiaries receiving free foodgrains,
inter-State and inter-district portability transactions and improvement in food security,
transparency and beneficiary satisfaction during last five years, State and year-wise especially
in context of Nladhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha
Constituency in Odisha;
(d): whether the Government has undertaken any State-wise assessment of PMGKAY and
PDS reforms particularly in Maharashtra and Jalgaon Lok Sabha constituency;
(e): if so, the details of beneficiaries covered, grievance redressal performance and measures
taken to address last-mile delivery challenges in Maharashtra including Jalgaon district; and
(f): the details of the funds released during the last five years on PMGK AY and PDS in
Palghar district of Maharashtra?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION AND MINISTRY
OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
(SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)
(a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) To (f) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 61* (1ST POSITION) FOR ANSWER ON 4T II FEBRUARY,
2026 REGARDING 'EFFECTIVENESS OF PMGKAY AND PDS’(a): Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) governed under National Food Security Act,
2013 (NFSA) is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/UT
Governments. The operational responsibilities for allocation offoodgrains within the States/UTs,
identification of eligible beneficiaries & families, issuance of ration cards to them, distribution of
foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries, supervision and monitoring of functioning of Fair Price
Shops (FPSs) etc. rest with the concerned State/ UT Governments.
Union Government has laid down a robust mechanism to seamlessly distribute the food
grains under PIVIGKAY to around 80 Crore Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
(PMGKAY) beneficiaries through Fair Price Shops in all the State/UTs.
As part of the Government’s digital initiatives to enhance reach, effectiveness under
PMGKAY and the Public Distribution System (PDS), the ration card/beneficiary database has
been 100% djgjtised across all States and Union Territories, with 99.9% ration cards Aadhaar-
seeded and 99.2% beneficiaries aadhaar seeded.
This has enabled beneficiaries to access their full entitlements at Fair Price Shops through
e-PoS devices using their Ration Card Number or Aadhaar Number, with biometric
authentication. Further, initiatives such as One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC), Mera Ration
App and Anna Sahayata have expanded the reach of food security benefits, particularly to migrant
and mobile populations, thereby improving the effectiveness ofPMGKAY and PDS.
(b): At present, 100% ration cards have been digitized across the country. The nationwide
portability of ration cards popularly known as One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) feature is
enabled in all States and Union Territories recording approx. 3 Crore average monthly
transactions. Through this technology driven reform, around 80 Crore Pradhan Mantri Garib
Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) beneficiaries are empowered to lift their entitled foodgrains
from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of their choice, anywhere in the country, by using their same
existing ration card with biometric authentication on an electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) device.
The family back home can also lift the part of the PMGKAY foodgrains in the home State/UT on
the same ration card.
(c): At present as on 1 st Feb 2026, PMGKAY has a coverage of total 79.44 Cr beneficiaries
who are receiving free food grains every month.
In the last 3 years the beneficiaries receiving free food grains every month are as follows:
State/District No of beneficiaries
Madhya Pradesh 5,36,23,49 1
a 4.0 1 ,94,74 1
Maharashtra 68,073,038
Nabrangpur, Odisha 10,59,870
SNo 1Y ear State/District No of beneficiaries
Madhya Pradesh 5,54.18.818
2 a 4,01 ,93,000
2024
3 Maharashtra 6,84,32, 163
NabrangDur, Odisha 11.03,025SNo 1Y ear I State/District No of
beneficiaries
Madhya Pradesh 5,26.52,028
a 4,04,2 1 ,534
2023 Maharashtra 6,65,7 1 ,685
Nabrangpur, 11,05,617
Odisha
The ONORC facility is automatically available to all eligible PMGKAY beneficiaries
without any additional requirement. It has been implemented seamlessly to cover 100%
PMGKAY beneficiaries (including women and migrant workers). To date, 201 crore portability
transactions have been recorded under ONORC, covering both inter-State and intra-State. The
high number of portability transactions shows wide acceptance of ONORC among PMGKAY
beneficiaries.
The State and year-wise details of Inter-state and Intra-state portability transactions is at
Annexure.
(d): This Department engaged Monitoring Institutions (MIs) of repute to undertake concurrent
evaluation of the implementation of National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) in different
States/UTs for Phase-1 (2018-20) and Phase-I1 (2020-23). Reports submitted by the Mls are
available in public domain at https://nfsa.gov.in/portal/Concurrent Evaluation.
(e): The Department has taken several steps to strengthen grievance redressal in the Public
Distribution System. Major initiatives include:
1. Strengthened Grievance Redressal Systems
0 Universal availability of 1967/1800-series toll-free helplines across all States/UTs.
0 Introduction of Anna Sahayata, an advanced WhatsApp and IVRS-based grievance redressal
system, allowing beneficiaries to lodge complaints in their own language.
0 Mera Ration Mobile App, which enables beneficiaries to check their entitlements, member
and demographic details, last month’s distribution status, nearby FPS location, and to lodge
grievances directly through the app.
2. Enhanced Monitoring through CPGRAMS
o States/UTs and all concerned organisations have been sensitised to strictly adhere to the 21-
day timeline for grievance disposal prescribed under CPGRAMS.
o Pendency of grievances is monitored regularly through CPGRAIVIS dashboards.
o Monthly advisories are issued to States to promote uniform and timely grievance resolution.
o States/UTs with high pendency levels are specifically flagged for corrective action.
These steps collectively strengthen grievance redressal mechanisms, improve transparency
and help ensure that all beneficiaries receive their rightful foodgrain entitlements in a timely and
transparent manner.
(f): The detail of funds released to State of Maharashtra (including Palghar) from FY 2020-2 1
to till date is as below- (Rs. in Crores)MaharashtraAnnexu re
Ma(Ih),a Pradesh State Inter and Intra state Portabili Transactio
Intera Intra State Transaction
17,65,206
2021 48,65,597
2022 99,45, 128
2023 16, 190 1 ,45,64,873
2024 58,836 1.68,48.549
2025 58,367 1,81 ,85,859
133393 66175212
Total
Karnataka State Inter and Intra state Portabil Transaction
Inter State Transaction Intra
Sa
0 44,55, 146
0 79,84,959
2021 0 99,89,711
2022 0 1 , 1 7,92,668
2023 4 1 ,25,62,9 1 6
2024 0 1 ,24,65,740
2025 0 1 , 1 7,69,583
Total 4 7, 1 0,20,723
Maharashtra State Inter and Intra state Portabil Transaction
Inter State Transaction Intra Ste
44,90,543
52,84,92 1
1,11,71,528
2023 2,34,020 1 , 1 7,48,227
2024 6,70,750 1 ,34,77,593
2025 8,74,642
1 ,46,62,5 10
17,79,4 1 2 6,08,35,322
Nabaran ur District Inter and Intra state Portabili Transaction
Inter State Transaction Intra State Transactio
0 5
0 2,760
0 9,037
0 5, 195
0 5,714
0 5,287
0 27,998
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