**Executive Summary:**
This document outlines the steps taken by the Indian Government to enhance transparency, improve efficiency, and empower citizens within the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) through technology-driven reforms. It details the features and objectives of the Anna Mitra mobile app, designed to streamline operations and improve access to the Public Distribution System (PDS). The document addresses a question raised in Lok Sabha on July 23, 2025, regarding these initiatives.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Technology-Driven TPDS Reforms:**
* Ration card/beneficiary databases are 100% digitized in all States/UTs.
* Transparency portals and online grievance redressal/toll-free numbers are implemented across all States/UTs.
* Online allocation is implemented in all States/UTs.
* Supply chain is computerized in 31 States/UTs.
* 5.41 Lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) are automated with ePoS devices for transparent distribution via biometric Aadhaar authentication.
* **One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC):**
* Seamlessly implemented in all 36 States/UTs.
* Ensures nationwide portability of PMGKAY foodgrains.
* Empowers approximately 80 Crore PMGKAY beneficiaries to lift their entitled foodgrains from any FPS using their existing ration card with biometric authentication.
* **Anna Mitra Mobile App:**
* Empowers PDS field functionaries with access to critical operational data through a secure platform.
* Streamlines field-level monitoring, stock management, and compliance reporting for FPS dealers, Food Inspectors, and District Food Supply Officers (DFSOs).
* Key design features include transaction summaries, beneficiary management, inspection modules, feedback/rating modules, and stock level management.
* Aims to reduce bottlenecks, eliminate paperwork, and enhance decision-making through data access.
* Currently operational in Uttarakhand, Tripura, Assam, and Punjab and available in English and Hindi.
* Phased implementation is underway in other States/UTs.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **PMGKAY Beneficiaries:**
* *Impact:* Empowered to access entitled foodgrains from any FPS across the country, improving food security and choice.
* *Action Required:* Use existing ration card with biometric authentication at any FPS.
* **Fair Price Shop (FPS) Dealers:**
* *Impact:* Required to use ePoS devices for transparent distribution; subject to field-level monitoring through the Anna Mitra app.
* *Action Required:* Utilize ePoS devices for all transactions; comply with reporting requirements through the Anna Mitra app (in pilot states).
* **Food Inspectors and District Food Supply Officers (DFSOs):**
* *Impact:* Enhanced ability to monitor field-level operations, manage stock, and ensure compliance through the Anna Mitra app.
* *Action Required:* Utilize the Anna Mitra app for inspections, monitoring, and reporting (in pilot states).
* **State/UT Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for digitizing ration card databases, implementing transparency portals, and computerizing supply chains.
* *Action Required:* Continue to maintain and update digitized databases, ensure functionality of transparency portals, and participate in phased implementation of the Anna Mitra app.
Key Entities Referenced
National Food Security Act: A significant Indian legislation focused on providing subsidized food grains to a large section of the population.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana: A food security welfare scheme in India, providing free food grains to beneficiaries during specific periods.
Anna Mitra Mobile App: A mobile application designed to empower Public Distribution System (PDS) field functionaries by providing access to critical operational data.
Public Distribution System: A government-managed system for distributing essential commodities like food grains to the public at subsidized rates.
Fair Price Shops: Government-approved outlets that distribute subsidized food grains and other essential commodities to ration card holders under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
One Nation One Ration Card: An initiative ensuring nationwide portability of ration cards, enabling beneficiaries to access subsidized food grains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) across the country.
Uttarakhand: A state in Northern India where the Anna Mitra app is operational as part of a pilot program.
Tripura: A state in Northeast India where the Anna Mitra app is operational as part of a pilot program.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRiBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 588
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23RD JULY, 2025
NFSA AND PMGKAY
t588. SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to enhance transparency, improve
efficiency and empower citizen in the context of National Food Security Act (NFS A) and Pradhan
Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) along with the details thereof;
(b) the objectives and key design features of the Anna Mhra Mobile App; and
(c) the manner in which the said App enhances beneficiaries access to the Public Distribution
System?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a): As part of the technology driven Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) reforms,
with the aim to enhance transparency and improve efficiency 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 31 States/UTs (except UTs of Chandigarh,
Puducherry 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.-2-
At present, One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) is seamlessly implemented in all 36
States/UTs, across the country. ONORC ensures nation-wide seamless portability of Pradhan
Manta Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) foodgrains distributed by the States/UTs.
Through this technology driven reform, around 80 Crore PMGKAY beneficiaries, are
empowered to lift their entitled foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of their choice,
anywhere in the country, by using their same existing ration card with biometric authentication
on an electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) device.
(b) & (c): The Anna Mitra mobile app empowers PDS (Public Distribution System) field
functionaries by providing the access to critical operational data through a secure platform.
The app is designed to streamline field-level monitoring, stock management, and compliance
reporting by Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers, Food Inspectors and District Food Supply Officers
(DFSOs).
Key Design Feature of Anna Mitra –
• Streamline field-level operations, stock tracking, and compliance reporting.
• Transaction summary of ration cards, beneficiary management and other
stakeholder information.
• Inspection modules, feedback and rating modules
e Stock level management from District to FPS level
These features enable the app to
• Reduce bottlenecks and eliminate manual paperwork.
• Enhance decision-making through data access .
Anna Mitra ultimately brings all key PDS stakeholders onto a single, secure digital
platform, improving transparency, speed, and efficiency in service delivery.
At present, the Anna Mitra app is operational in four pilot States i.e Uttarakhand,
Tripura, Assam and Punjab and available in two languages (English & Hindi). It is getting
implemented in other States/UT in phased manner.
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