The Indian government is actively taking measures to improve the efficiency and transparency of the Public Distribution System (PDS). Key steps include complete digitization of ration card/beneficiary databases across all States/Union Territories, implementation of transparency portals and online grievance redressal mechanisms (including toll-free numbers) nationwide. As of July 2025, approximately 99.7% of ration cards are seeded with Aadhaar, and 99.6% (5.41 Lakh out of 5.43 Lakh) Fair Price Shops (FPSs) have been automated using ePoS devices for transparent electronic distribution of food grains via biometric Aadhaar authentication.
The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, is implemented across all States/UTs, aiming to provide food security to up to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population, covering 81.35 crore individuals based on the 2011 Census. Under the Act, Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households receive 35 kg of food grains per household per month, while Priority Households (PHH) receive 5 kg of food grains per person per month, free of cost. Currently, 80.56 crore beneficiaries are receiving food grains free of cost, against an intended coverage of 81.35 crore.
The possibility of revising coverage under the NFSA is contingent upon the publication of relevant data from the next population Census, as per Section 9 of the Act, which stipulates that coverage percentages are determined by the Central Government based on census population estimates. Therefore, no immediate changes to beneficiary numbers are planned in response to rising inflation until the next census data is available.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The Indian government ministry responsible for consumer affairs, food, and public distribution.
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 sections of the society at subsidized prices.
National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: An Indian Act of Parliament which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of the country's population.
Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): A modified version of the Public Distribution System (PDS) intended to benefit the poor and vulnerable groups.
Aadhaar: A 12-digit unique identity number issued to all Indian residents based on their biometric and demographic data.
Fair Price Shops (FPSs): Shops licensed to distribute essential commodities, like food grains, at subsidized prices under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): A scheme to provide highly subsidized food grains to the poorest families.
Priority Households (PHH): Households identified as priority under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), entitled to receive subsidized food grains.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1676
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30Tll JULY, 2025
EFFICIENCY AND TRANSPARENCY IN PDS
1676. SMT. GENIBEN NAGAJI THAKOR:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is taking measures to improve the efficiency and transparency
of the Public Distribution System (PDS);
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to curb leakages, fake ration cards and ensure
proper delivery offoodgrains to beneficiaries;
(c) the details and the current status of implementation of the National Food Security Act
(NFSA), 2013 across States/UTs;
(d) whether there is any proposal to include more beneficiaries under the food subsidy
schemes in view of rising inflation; and
(e) if so, the details thereon
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a) & (b): As part of the technology driven Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)
reforms, with the aim to improve the efficiency and transparency in the TPDS, ration
cards/beneficiaries database have been completely digitized (100%) in all States/UTs. The
transparency portal and online grievance redressal facility/Toll-free number have been
implemented in all States/UTs. Further, 99.7% ration cards are Aadhaar seeded in the country.
Nearly 5.41 Lakh (99.6%) out of total 5.43 Lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the country have
been automated by installing ePoS devices for the distribution of foodgrains in a transparent
manner (electronically) through biometric/ Aadhaar authentication of beneficiaries.(c): The National food Security Act, 2013 is being implemented in all the States/UTs aims
to supplement the food requirements of upto 759/, of the rural and upto 50% of the urban
population, which at Census 2011 comes to 81.35 crore persons. While Antyodaya Anna
Yojana (A AY) households, which constitute poorest of the poor are entitled to 35 kg of
foodgrains, per household per month, Priority Households (PHH) are entitled to 5 kg of
foodgrains per person per month free of cost. The Coverage under the Act is substantially high
to ensure that all the vulnerable and needy sections of the society get its benefit. At present,
against the intended coverage of 81.35 crore, 80.56 crore beneficiaries are receiving foodgrains
free of cost.
(d)& (e): Section 9 of the Act provides that the percentage coverage under the Targeted Public
Distribution System in rural and urban areas for each State shall be determined by the Central
Government and the total number of persons to be covered in the State shall be calculated
based on the population estimates as per the census of which the relevant figures have been
published. Therefore, any revision in the coverage under the NFS A shall be possible only after
the relevant data of the next population Census is published.
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