Parliament Question: Implementation of NFSA and PDS in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3992 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12Tll AUGUST, 2026 IMPLEMENTATION OF NFSA AND PDS IN TAMIL NADU 3992 SHRI SELVAM G: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a) the status of implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 and the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Tamil Nadu during the last three years including the details of eligible beneficiaries, Fair Price Shops and foodgrains allocation; (b) the details of the initiatives undertaken by the Government to strengthen the PDS in Tamil Nadu through end-to-end computerisation, e-PoS devices, Aadhaar seeding and supply chain monitoring; (c) whether the Government has assessed the impact of these initiatives on improving transparency, portability, timely distribution of foodgrains and beneficiary satisfaction in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof; (d) the details of the measures taken by the Government to strengthen grievance redressal, curb diversion offoodgrains and improve service delivery under the PDS in the said State; and (e) the details of the further steps proposed by the Government to modernise the PDS and strengthen food security in Tamil Nadu? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a): The Public Distribution System (PDS) is now governed as per the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA). The Act is being successfully implemented in all the States/UTs, including the State of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu has identified 362.23 lakh beneficiaries (as on 16.07.2026) against the intended coverage of 364.70 lakh persons for receiving free of cost foodgrains under the Act. The details of the number of beneficiaries receiving free foodgrains in the State of Tamil Nadu under NFS A during the last three years are as follows: -As of 31.03.2024 As of 31.03.202 As of 31.03.2026 3,63,61,654 3,63,36,681 The details of the number of Fair Price Shops operational in the State of Tamil Nadu during the last three years are as follows: - 2024 2025 34,805 34,890 The details of foodgrains allocated (in thousand tons) to the State of Tamil Nadu during the last three years are as follows: - 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 3677.75 3677.75 3677.75 (b) to (e): To enhance transparency, digitisation, and overall efficiency across the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), the Government has implemented key initiatives including 100% database digitisation & Aadhaar seeding of Ration Cards, Rightful Targeting through data analytics, online grain allocation, supply chain computerisation, and transparency and grievance portals across all States and UTs. Additionally, distribution has been streamlined through ePoS- automated Fair Price Shops with biometric authentication, nationwide card portability via the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme, implementation of SMART-PDS, and advanced real- time data integration and tracking under the NIRMAL and SAKSHAM initiatives of the SARTHAK PDS umbrella scheme (2026–3 1). The Act further provides for putting in place an internal grievance redressal mechanisrn (IGRM), appointment/ designation of a District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO) in each district for expeditious and effective redressal of grievances of the aggrieved persons in matters relating to the distribution of entitled foodgrains and to enforce the entitlements under the Act. The Act also provides for the constitution/ designation of the State Food Commission for monitoring and review of the implementation of the Act. In order to ensure food security and strengthen the monitoring of implementation of the Act and to provide a more in-depth, incisive and comprehensive empirical evidence regularly, the Government has conducted the concurrent evaluation of PMGKAY during 2025-26. #####