Parliament Question: Movement of Foodgrains by FCI

> GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 895 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH FEBRUARY, 2026 MOVEMENT OF FOODGRAINS BY FCI 895. SMT. SAJDA AHMED : Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a): whether the movement offoodgrains by Food Corporation of India (FCI) from surplus to deficit regions is based on demand communicated by Fair Price Shops dealers and if so, the details thereof; (b): whether there is any uniform guideline across States regarding the minimum time gap for communication offoodgrains requirements by FPS dealers and if so, the details thereof; (c): whether the Government proposes to issue such standardised guidelines to ensure timely and efficient movement of foodgrains and if so, the details thereof; and (d): the details of the steps taken to automate FCI operations including implementation of online depot management systems in owned and hired godowns? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a) to (c): The movement of foodgrains by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) from surplus to deficit regions is not based on demand communicated by Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers. Under the Targeted Public Distribution System, the allocation of foodgrains is a centralised process based on the number of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) beneficiaries and tide over quantity of State under NFS A. The FCI under supervision of Department of Food & Public Distribution oversees the inter- State movement of foodgrains from surplus regions to deficit regions. Based on the monthly allocation issued by the Government of India, State Governments raise depot-wise indents on FCI, and foodgrains are positioned accordingly. FPS dealers do not directly communicate demand to FCI A monthly movement plan is prepared by FCI in advance, keeping in view multiple operational parameters, including: • quantity available in surplus regions, • quantity required by deficit regions,likely procurement during the month, • vacant storage capacity in both procuring and consuming regions, and • monthly allotment and anticipated off-take offoodgrains. • Foodgrains are moved using a multimodal logistics framework comprising Rail, Road, and Coastal Shipping, with about 80% of inter-State movement undertaken through Railways. Railways are informed in advance during the preceding month about the rake requirements for the following month to ensure timely placement and evacuation. Since FPS dealers are not part of the inter-State movement chain, there is no requirement for uniform guidelines across States regarding time gaps for communication of demand by FPS dealers, nor is there any proposal to issue such guidelines. FCI, through advance planning and coordination with Railways and States, has been able to ensure adequate availability of foodgrains in all States on a continuous basis. (d): The project Depot Online System (DOS) was envisaged in order to automate the processes and improve the efficiency and transparency in FCI operations. DOS was rolled out on 01.12.2018 for FC:I owned depots and subsequently rolled out in phased manner for all the hired depots. Further, to replace the DOS, FCI has developed ANNA DARPAN which is aimed at creating a robust single, unified source of information. This integrated platform will not only streamline data exchange and coordination but also strengthen transparency, collaboration and informed decision making across all levels. ANNA DARPAN was initially rolled out across 108 pilot depots with five core modules, namely Procurement, Storage & Physical Verification, Sales, Quality Control and Movement. Subsequently, in a phased manner, the system was extended to all depots of FCI. 888888