**Executive Summary:**
This document presents the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution's response to questions regarding the implementation of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Maharashtra. It addresses beneficiary coverage, Fair Price Shop (FPS) operations, evaluation of PDS effectiveness, measures for transparent delivery, reported irregularities, and potential increases in FPS dealer remuneration. The information reflects the status as of August 20, 2025, and references the National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **PDS Implementation and Coverage:**
* The PDS in Maharashtra is governed by the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
* The maximum beneficiary coverage is 76.32% of the rural and 45.34% of the urban population, totaling 700.17 lakh persons (as per Census 2011).
* Maharashtra has identified beneficiaries up to the maximum permissible limit of 700.17 lakh persons.
* Foodgrains include rice, wheat, or coarse grains.
* **Fair Price Shops and Ration Cards:**
* There are 59,819 functional Fair Price Shops (FPS) in Maharashtra.
* There are 1,67,41,854 ration card holders in Maharashtra.
* **Evaluation of PDS:**
* The Department engaged Monitoring Institutions (MIs) to evaluate the implementation of the NFSA in Maharashtra for Phase I (2018-20) and Phase II (2020-23).
* Evaluation reports are available publicly on the NFSA portal.
* **Transparency and Delivery:**
* Beneficiary identification, ration card issuance, and foodgrain distribution are the responsibilities of the State Government.
* Ration cards and beneficiary databases have been fully digitized.
* Transparency portals and online grievance redressal mechanisms (Toll-free number) are implemented.
* Online allocation is implemented and supply chains are computerized.
* ePoS devices are installed in nearly 5.41 Lakh FPS for electronic distribution via Aadhaar authentication.
* **Irregularities:**
* No irregularities in PDS implementation have been reported by the State Government of Maharashtra.
* **FPS Dealer Remuneration:**
* The State Government is responsible for fixing and periodically reviewing the margin for FPS owners.
* The Central Government provides assistance to States for intra-state movement, handling of foodgrains, and FPS dealer margins.
* Norms for Central Assistance towards FPS dealer margins were enhanced in April 2022.
* There is currently no proposal under consideration to further enhance FPS dealer margins.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Beneficiaries:**
* *Impact:* Ensured access to subsidized foodgrains under the NFSA through a transparent and digitized PDS system.
* *Action Required:* Continue utilizing ration cards and Aadhaar authentication for accessing foodgrains at Fair Price Shops.
* **State Government of Maharashtra:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the effective implementation of the PDS, including beneficiary identification, ration card issuance, and foodgrain distribution.
* *Action Required:* Maintain digitized databases, ensure transparency, address grievances, and periodically review FPS dealer margins.
* **Fair Price Shop (FPS) Dealers:**
* *Impact:* Operational viability of FPS is to be ensured through periodic review of margins by the State Government. Central Assistance is provided.
* *Action Required:* Maintain transparent operations, utilize ePoS devices, and adhere to State Government guidelines regarding service delivery and margins.
Key Entities Referenced
Public Distribution System PDS: A government-run system for distributing food and other essential commodities to the poor at subsidized prices.
Maharashtra: A state in India where the implementation of the PDS is being assessed.
National Food Security Act, 2013 NFSA: An Act of the Parliament of India which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of the country's population.
Fair Price Shops FPS: Government-approved shops that distribute essential commodities to ration card holders under the Public Distribution System.
Targeted Public Distribution System TPDS: A reformed version of the PDS that aims to improve transparency and accountability through technology.
Aadhaar: A 12-digit unique identity number issued to all Indian residents based on their biometric and demographic data.
Central Government: The Union Government of India, which shares responsibility with state governments for operating the TPDS.
Census 2011: The most recent census of India, used to determine the population figures for PDS coverage.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4423
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20TH AUGUST, 2025
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PDS IN MAHARASHTRA
4423 DR. AMOL RAMSIN(, KOLHE:
SHRI MOHITE PATIL DHAIRYASHEEL RAJSINH:
SMT. SUPRIYA SULE:
PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD:
SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAG ARE:
SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a) the present status of implementation of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the State
of Maharashtra including coverage of beneficiaries and commodities distributed;
(b) the number of Fair Price Shops (FPS) currently functional in Maharashtra and the total
number of ration card holders benefiting under the PDS ;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any evaluations to assess the effectiveness and
efficiency of the PDS in Maharashtra and if so, the key findings thereof;
(d) the steps taken to ensure timely and transparent delivery offoodgrains and essential
commodities to beneficiaries in rural, tribal and urban areas of the said State;
(e) whether any irregularities have been reported in the PDS implementation in Maharashtra
in recent years and if so, the action taken thereon; and
(f) whether the Government proposes to increase the remuneration/commission of FPS
dealers in light of rising inflation and operating costs and if so, the details thereoP
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 State of Maharashtra. Under the Act, the maximum coverage of beneficiaries determined
for the State of Maharashtra is 76.32% of the rural and 45.34% of the urban population which at
Census 2011 comes to 700.17 lakh persons. The State of Maharashtra has identified the
beneficiaries upto maximum permissible limit i.e. 700.17 lakh persons.-2-
The term “foodgrains” is defined as rice, wheat or coarse grains or any combination thereof
conforming to such quality norms as may be determined, by order, by the Central Government
from time to time.
(b): There are 59,819 number of Fair Price Shops (FPS) and 1,67,41,854 number of ration card
in State of Maharashtra.
(c): This Department engaged Monitoring Institutions (MIs) of repute to undertake concurrent
evaluation of the implementation of the Act in different States/UTs, including Maharashtra, for
Phase-1 (2018-20) and Phase-I1 (2020-23). Reports and the findings submitted by the Mls are
available in public domain at “https://nfsa.gov.in/portal/Concurrent Evaluation”
(d): Under the joint responsibility of the Central and State Government, the responsibility for
identification of beneficiaries, issuance of their ration cards and distribution of foodgrains as per
their entitlement under the Act rests with the concerned State Government
As part of the technology driven Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) reforms, with
the aim to improve the transparency and accountability 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. Also,
online allocation has been implemented in all States/UTs and supply chain has been computerized
in 3 1 States/UTs (except UTs of Chandigarh, Puducheny and Urban area of Dadra & Nagar Haveli
which have adopted DBT Cash Transfer scheme). Further, for better tracking of foodgrains
distribution, 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.
(e): There is no report from State Government regarding any irregularities in implementation of
PDS in the State of Maharashtra
(f): The TPDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/UT
Governments. The operational responsibility including issuance of licenses to Fair Price Shops
(FPSs), supervision and monitoring of the functioning of Fair Price Shops etc., rest with the
concerned State/UT Government. As per sub-clause (7) of clause 9 of the TPDS (Control) Order,
2015, the State Government shall fix an amount as the fair price shop owner’s margin, which shall
be periodically reviewed for ensuring sustained viability of the fair price shop operations.-j'1-'
The Central Government has limited role in determining the actual rate of fair price shop
dealers’ margin/ commission/ honorarium etc. The Central Government only provides the
assistance to States/UTs for meeting the expenditure towards intra-State movement & handling of
foodgrains and fair price shop dealers’ margin under the NFS A, in accordance with the provisions
of Food Security (Assistance to State Governments) Rules, 2015, (as amended from time to time)
which inter-alia provides for norms of expenditure and pattern of central sharing. In order to ensure
viability of Fair Price Shops, the norms of Central Assistance towards FPS Dealers’ margin were
enhanced w.e.f. April, 2022.
At present, no proposal for enhancement of FPS dealers’ margin is under consideration of
the Government
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