Parliament Question: PDS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 568 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22ND JULY, 2026 PDS 568. SMT. MANJU SHARMA: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a): the main features of the Public Distribution System (PDS); (b): the details of funds sanctioned, allocated and utilised under this scheme in Rajasthan during the last three years; (C): the details of the targets set and achievements made so far under said schemes; (d): whether the Government has any plans to improve the public distribution system and storage sector in the country; and (e): 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 which provides for food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food free of cost to people to live a life with dignity. The Act provides for coverage of upto 75% of rural population and upto 50% of urban population thus covering about two-thirds of the total population of the country which at Census 201 1 comes to 81.35 crore. Under the Act, while Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute poorest of the poor are entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains, per household per month, Priority Households (PHH) are entitled to 5 kg offoodgrains per person per month free of cost.(b): Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) nimburses the expenditure incurred by States that have opted for Decentralized Procurement (DCP) mode for distribution of food- grains to the beneficiaries of Central Schemes as per allocation made by Government of India. Further, funds are also released by Food Corporation of India (PCI) to the States for the quanturn of food-grains handed over to them by States for Central Pool. The difference between Economic Cost and Central Issue Price (CIP), at which foodgrains (Wheat, Rice and Coarse grains) are issued to States, is reimbursed to FCI and DCP States as food subsidy. Funds are also released to Food Corporation of India (FCI) for maintenance of buffer stocks. The food subsidy released to DCP States & PCI is made as per budgetary allocation made by Ministry of Finance (IVloF). Rajasthan being a non-DCP State do not receive food subsidy directly from DFPD. (c) to (e): The details of steps taken to modernize and increase the effectiveness of the public distribution mechanism and to improve the storage sector alongwith achievements made so far are as follows: 1. Digitisation & Aadhaar seeding: Ration cards/beneficiary database is 100% digitised in all States/UTs; 99.7% of ration cards are Aadhaar-seeded, eliminating ineligible/duplicate cards 11. Transparency & grievance redressal: Transparency portals and online grievance redressal/toll-free helplines operational in all States/UTs. lli. Online allocation & supply chain computerisation: Online allocation implemented in all States/UTs; supply chain computerised in 31 States/UTs (except Chandigarh, Puducherry and urban areas ofDadra & Nagar Haveli, which have adopted DBT Cash Transfer). 1 V. ePoS-based Aadhaar authentication at FPS level: 5.50 lakh (99.8%) of 5.51 lakh Fair Price Shops automated with ePoS devices, ensuring biometric authentication of beneficiaries at the point of distribution and curbing diversion. V. One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC): Nationwide portability implemented across all 36 States/UTs, covering all PMGKAY beneficiaries; over 221 crore portability transactions recorded to date, reducing exclusion and duplicate entitlement claims.Vl. SMART-PDS under implementation with unified modules for RCMS, Distribution, Supply Chain and Grievance Redressal. Vll. Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based foodgrain distribution is being piloted (Gujarat, Puducherry, Chandigarh, DNH; further pilots planned in Odisha, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, J&K). Vlll. ANNA CHAKRA: “Anna Chakra” tool implemented to streamline the PDS supply chain, improving efficiency, cutting carbon emissions and reducing overall costs while supporting 81 crore vulnerable citizens. The Route Optimisation exercise has been completed in 31 States/UTs for optimisation of food grain movement under PDS. IX. Depot Darpan Portal: The Depot Darpan Portal is a digital platform being implemented in FCI and CWC, launched in May 2025, for enhanced monitoring, transparency, and efficiency of food grain storage depots under PDS. X. Smart Warehouse Project: The Project aims to ensure real-time visibility, tinlely intervention, data-driven decision-making, and standardised operations across all depots for safe, secure, and efficient food grain storage and distribution by equipping traditional depots with: (i) Smoke sensors, fire sensors, and gate-opening sensors (ii) Real-time monitoring of CO,, phosphine levels, fire hazards, humidity, unauthorised entry, and temperature. 8888+