**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1842 in Lok Sabha, to be answered on February 11, 2026, concerning Fair Price Shops (FPS) in Uttar Pradesh. The question sought information regarding the number of FPS and e-PoS enabled FPS, the impact of poor internet connectivity, and biometric authentication challenges. The response is provided by the Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Number of FPS**:
* The total number of Fair Price Shops (FPS) in Uttar Pradesh is 73138.
* All FPSs in Uttar Pradesh are e-PoS enabled.
* **Internet Connectivity Issues**:
* The Department of Telecommunications has been requested to resolve internet/connectivity issues for ePoS devices in remote locations.
* Beneficiaries can lift their entitled foodgrains from any FPS with an operational ePoS device, regardless of internet connectivity.
* ePoS devices have offline functionality and periodically sync with the PDS online system.
* **Biometric Authentication**:
* No specific feedback or reports have been received regarding biometric authentication issues.
* States/UTs have been advised that no genuine beneficiary should be denied subsidized foodgrains due to biometric or Aadhaar authentication failures related to connectivity issues or technical reasons.
**Impact Analysis**
**Department of Telecommunications**
* **Impact:** Required to address internet/connectivity issues for ePoS devices in remote locations.
* **Action Required:** Resolve internet/connectivity related issues to ensure the smooth operation of ePoS devices at FPSs in areas with limited or no network coverage.
**States/UTs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for ensuring that eligible beneficiaries receive their entitled foodgrains without hindrance.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to the advisory that no genuine beneficiary should be denied foodgrains due to biometric or Aadhaar authentication failures caused by network or technical issues.
**Beneficiaries**
* **Impact:** Entitled to receive foodgrains from any FPS with an operational ePoS device, even in areas with poor internet connectivity.
* **Action Required:** Be aware that they should not be denied foodgrains due to biometric or Aadhaar authentication failures stemming from technical issues. They can access foodgrains from FPS with operational e-PoS.
Key Entities Referenced
Fair Price Shops (FPS): Government-run shops that distribute essential commodities, like food grains, to eligible households under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
e-PoS enabled Fair Price Shops: Fair Price Shops that use electronic point of sale (e-PoS) devices to authenticate beneficiaries and record transactions.
Uttar Pradesh: The state where the Fair Price Shops and e-PoS implementation is being discussed.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution: The central ministry responsible for administering policies related to consumer affairs, food security, and the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Public Distribution System (PDS): Government-run system of providing essential food and non-food items at subsidized rates to the poor.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1842
TO BE ANSWERED ON lITH FEBRUARY, 2026
FAIR PRICE SHOPS IN THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH
1842. SHRI RAJEEV RAI:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a): the total number of Fair Price Shops (FPS) and the number of e-PoS enabled Fair Price
Shops (FPS) in the State of Uttar Pradesh;
(b): whether disruption due to poor internet connectivity in the remote areas in eastern UP
including that of Mau and Ballia districts have adversely impacted the real-time data verification
process at FPSs;
(c): if so, whether Biometric failures due to wornout fingerprints, challenges of biometric
authentication (fingerprint recognition) have adversely impacted labourers and elderly people;
and
(d): if so, the details thereof including the steps taken by the Government to resolve the
problems being faced by the beneficiaries of PDS?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a): The total number of Fair Price Shops (FPS) are 73 138 and all FPSs are e-PoS enabled in the
State of Uttar Pradesh.
(b): To ensure the availability of internet/connectivity for ePoS devices at FPSs in remote
locations / shadow/no network areas in some States, the Department of Telecommunications has been
requested to resolve the internet/connectivity related issues. The beneficiaries are empowered to lift
their entitled foodgrains from any FPS having operational ePoS device without facing any
internet/connectivity related challenges. The ePoS devices have a functionality to work in offline
mode with limited/ no internet connectivity. The ePOS devices have to come periodically to network
area to sync the offline ePOS data with PDS online system.(c) & (d): No specific feedback or reports have been received by this department on this aspect by
States/UTs and other Stakeholders. Further, all States/UTs have been advised that no genuine
beneficiary/household shall be denied from receiving entitled quota of subsidized foodgrains due to
failure of biometric/Aadhaar authentication due to network/connectivity/linking related issues, other
technical reasons or proof biometrics of the beneficiary.
$8888