Executive Summary:
This document presents a response to a parliamentary question regarding Fair Price Shops (FPSs) and Jan Poshan Kendras (JPKs) under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in India. It details the number and distribution of FPSs, the status of the Jan Poshan Kendra pilot program, and the government's approach to incorporating millets into the Public Distribution System (PDS). It also refers to data up to August 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Fair Price Shops (FPS):
* There are 5,43,259 FPSs under NFSA across the country.
* A state-wise breakdown of FPS numbers, including the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, is provided in Annexure A.
Jan Poshan Kendras (JPK):
* A pilot study is underway with 90 FPSs converted to JPKs.
* The JPKs are located in Hyderabad, Ghaziabad, Jaipur, Ahmedabad (15 each), and Indore (30).
Millets in Public Distribution System (PDS):
* Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), foodgrains (including millets) are provided free of cost to around 80 crore beneficiaries through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
* States/UTs can formulate their own food or nutrition-based plans/schemes, providing benefits exceeding those under PMGKAY.
* States/UTs can request millets/nutri-cereals in lieu of equal quantities of rice/wheat under PDS.
* Overall quantities of rice, wheat, and coarse grains/nutri-cereals must remain within the fixed upper ceiling for each State/UT.
* The distribution of millets/coarse grains was 10,41,659 MT in 2023-24, 12,29,020 MT in 2024-25, and 2,12,436 MT up to August 2025.
Impact Analysis:
Central Government:
* Impact: Responsible for defining foodgrain quality norms and allocating foodgrains (including millets) under PMGKAY, monitoring State/UT distribution.
* Action Required: Ensure foodgrain quality standards are met, and millet allocation remains within established upper limits for each state.
State/UT Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for the distribution of foodgrains under PMGKAY and can formulate additional nutrition-based schemes. Have the option to request millet allocation in lieu of rice/wheat.
* Action Required: Effectively distribute allocated foodgrains, including millets, and consider formulating additional nutrition-based schemes. Ensure that the overall distribution quantities stay within prescribed limits.
Beneficiaries (approx. 80 crore):
* Impact: Receive foodgrains, including the option of millets, free of cost under PMGKAY through TPDS.
* Action Required: Avail themselves of the foodgrain distribution system, including the option of consuming millets as part of their food basket.
Fair Price Shop (FPS) Owners:
* Impact: Distribute foodgrains under PMGKAY. Some FPSs are converted into Jan Poshan Kendras (JPKs) under the pilot program.
* Action Required: Ensure effective distribution of allocated foodgrains and adhere to guidelines for JPKs if participating in the pilot program.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The Indian government ministry responsible for consumer affairs, food, and public distribution.
Jan Poshan Kendras: A pilot program converting fair price shops into centers for nutrition, with initial locations in select cities.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli: A Union Territory in India, specifically mentioned in the context of fair price shops.
Public Distribution System: A government-managed system for distributing food and essential items to the public at subsidized rates.
Shrimati Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya: Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food Public Distribution
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): A food security welfare scheme providing free foodgrains to beneficiaries through the Targeted Public Distribution System.
Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): A system to distribute foodgrains to identified poor households.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India, with a specific count of fair price shops mentioned.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1746
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2025
JAN POSHAN KENDRAS
1746. SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a) the details of fair price shops and Jan Poshan kendras in the country, State and district-
wise including those in the UT ofDadra and Nagar Haven;
(b) whether the Government proposes to replace rice and wheat with millet in the Public
Distribution System for the sake of making better nutritious food available to the people;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a): The total number of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) under NFS A are 5,43,259 across the
country and the statement indicating the State-wise total number of FPSs including UT of
Dadra and Nagar Haveli, is at Annexure-A.
Currently, under the Pilot study on Jan Poshan Kendra (JPK), 90 FPSs have been
converted to JPKs, i.e., 15 each from 4 cities, namely Hyderabad, Ghaziabad, Jaipur,
Ahmedabad and 30 from Indore.
(b) to (d): Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), foodgrains are
being provided to States/UTs for distribution to around 80 crore beneficiaries through Targeted
Public Distribution System (TPDS), free of cost from 1 st January 2023. The term 'foodgrains’
is defined as rice, wheat & coarse grains (including millets) or any combination thereof
conforming to such quality norms as may be determined, by order, by the Central Government
from time to time. In addition to this, the State/UT Governments may formulate food ornutrition based plans or schemes providing for benefits higher than the benefits provided under
PMGKAY.
Millets (Nutri-cereals) are also allocated under PDS in lieu of equal quantity of
wheat/rice (as requested by the State) while ensuring that the overall quantity of rice, wheat
and coarse grains (Nutri-cereals) has to be within the upper ceiling fixed in respect of each
State/UT.
Accordingly, 10,41,659 MT, 12,29,020 MT and 2,12,436 MT millets/coarse grains have
been distributed in the year 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 (upto August 2025) respectively.
####Annexu re-A
ANNEX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) of the LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.
1746 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 30.07.2025
Statement indicating State/UT – wise total number of Fair Price Shops under NFSA is as follows:
District count
1
S.No. State/UT Total Fair Price Shops
Andaman And Nicobar Islands 3 416
2 Andhra Pradesh 26 29,791
3 Arunachal Pradesh 26 ,680
4 Assam 3 5 34,300
5 Bihar 3 8 50,95 1
6 Chandjgarh DBT NA
7 a 33 D6
4
8 Dadar& Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu 114
9 Delhi 11 1 ,993
10 Goa 2 452
11 Gujarat 3 4 16,949
ma
12 22 9,434
W
1 3 I 12
14 Jammu And Kashmir 20 6,737
15 Jharkhand 24 25,228
16 Karnataka 3 5 20,403
17 Kerala 14 13,913
18 Ladakh 2 404
19 Lakshadwee1 3 9
20 Madhya Pradesh 55 27,377
21 Maharashtra 41 52,642
22 Manipur 16 2,339
2 3 Meghalaya 12 4,735
24 I 11 1 ,258
25 Nagaland 16 1 ,783
Odin
26 3 0 12,044
27 Puducherry DBT NA
28 Puni ab 2 3 18,150
29 ma 50 27,062
3 () Sikkim 6 1 ,312
3 1 Tamil Nadu 3 8 34,805
3 2 Telangana 3 /1 17,246
m)
3 3 8 2,057
3 zI Uttarakhand 1 3 9,059
3 5 Uttar Pradesh 75 79,2 1 6
3 6 e 2 3 20,476
Total 793 5,43,259