**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution's response to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Lakshadweep. The response, dated February 4th, 2026, addresses concerns related to the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the functioning of PDS in the Union Territory. The document outlines measures taken to ensure timely transportation, adequate allocation, quality control, transparency, and effective monitoring of the PDS.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013:**
* Implemented on an all-India basis to supplement food requirements for up to 75% of the rural and up to 50% of the urban population.
* Concurrent evaluation of implementation in Lakshadweep was conducted in 2021-22 and 2022-23 by the University of Kerala.
* **Lifting and Distribution:**
* Lifting and distribution of food grains under TPDS is a continuous process.
* States/UTs lift food grains from the Central Pool for distribution under TPDS as per requirement/entitlement.
* States/UTs can lift food grains in advance based on supply chain requirements for future distribution.
* **Operational Responsibilities:**
* Shared between Central and State/UT Governments.
* State/UT Governments responsible for:
* Allocation of food grains within the State/UT.
* Identification of eligible beneficiaries.
* Issuance of ration cards.
* Distribution of food grains.
* Licensing of Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers.
* Supervision and monitoring of FPSs.
* **Complaints and Grievances:**
* Any complaints related to TPDS are sent to concerned State/UT Governments for inquiry and action.
* No specific complaints of irregular distribution of PDS commodities or deficiencies in Lakshadweep have been received.
* **Technological Reforms:**
* End-to-End Computerization of PDS has been implemented nationwide.
* Significant progress includes:
* 100% digitization of ration cards.
* Installation of electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices.
* Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card.
* Computerization of supply chain management.
* Online grievance redressal systems.
* Transparency portals and Aadhar-based biometric authentication.
* **Annexure-I:**
* Details allocation, lifting and distribution under TPDS and OWS of foodgrains to Lakshadweep during last three Financial Years (2022-2025) and current year.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Residents of Lakshadweep**
* **Impact:** Ensuring access to foodgrains through the Public Distribution System (PDS), supplementing their food requirements under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Technological advancements aim to improve transparency and efficiency in the distribution process.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the PDS system to access subsidized foodgrains. Engage with grievance redressal mechanisms if any issues arise.
**Stakeholder: Lakshadweep UT Administration**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the operational aspects of the PDS, including identifying beneficiaries, distributing foodgrains, and supervising Fair Price Shops.
* **Action Required:** Maintain effective distribution, address grievances, and implement technological reforms to improve the PDS.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution**
* **Impact:** Responsible for overall policy and monitoring of the PDS implementation across the country, including Lakshadweep.
* **Action Required:** Continue to monitor PDS implementation in Lakshadweep, address any issues raised, and support technological upgrades.
Key Entities Referenced
National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA): Legislation aiming to supplement food requirements across India, including Lakshadweep, through the TPDS.
Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): The system used for distributing foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries under the NFSA, and is the primary focus of the questions in this document.
Lakshadweep: The Union Territory is the specific location to which the questions and answers in the document pertain, particularly regarding the implementation of the PDS.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution: The ministry responsible for the implementation and oversight of the NFSA and TPDS, and the department answering the questions.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRiBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 893
TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH FEBRUARY, 2026
PDS IN LAKSHADWEEP
893. SHRI MUHAMMED HAMDULLAH SAYEED:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a): whether the Government has reviewed the implementation and functioning of the (PDS)
in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep in view of its geographical isolation and complete
dependence on sea and air transport for essential commodities;
(b): if so, the details of foodgrains and essential commodities allocated, lifted and distributed
under PDS in Lakshadweep during the last three years and the current year;
(c): whether the Government is aware of reports regarding delays in supply, shortages,
quality issues and irregular distribution of PDS commodities in certain islands of Lakshadweep;
(d): if so, whether any representations or complaints have been received from residents,
elected representatives or the UT Administration regarding deficiencies in the implementation of
PDS in Lakshadweep;
(e): if so, the details thereof; and
(f): the details of the steps being taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure
timely transportation, adequate allocation, quality control, transparency and effective monitoring
of the PDS in Lakshadweep?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a) to (f): The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFS A), being implemented in all the States/UTs
on all-India basis, aims to supplement the food requirements of up to 7 SCY, of the rural and up to
50% of the urban population. In order to strengthen implementation of NFS A, 2013, the concurrent
evaluation of the implementation of NFSA, 2013 was conducted in 2021-22 and 2022-23 for UT of
Lakshadweep by University of Kerala.
Lifting and distribution of foodgrains under TPDS is a continuous process. States/UT’s lift
foodgrains from Central Pool for distribution under TPDS as per requirement/entitlement.
States/UT’s are also allowed to lift foodgrains in advance (higher quantity based on supply chain
requirements) for future distribution cycles, owing to their local exigencies.Details of allocation, lifting and distribution under TPDS and OWS of foodgrains to
Lakshadweep during last three Financial Years (2022-2025) and current year is at Annexure-I.
Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) under National Food Security Act (NFS A),
2013 is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State/Union Territory (UT)
Governments. The operational responsibilities for allocation of foodgrains within the States/ UTs,
identification of eligible beneficiaries, issuance of ration cards to them, distribution offoodgrains to
eligible beneficiaries under TPDS, issuance of license to Fair Price Shop dealers, supervision over
and monitoring of functioning of FPSs etc. rest with the concerned State/ UT Governments.
Accordingly, as and when any type of complaints/ grievances related to TPDS are received
in this Department from any source, they are sent to concerned State/ UT Governments for inquiry
and appropriate action. Further, no specific complaint cases related to irregular distribution of PDS
commodities in certain islands of Lakshadweep or deficiencies in the implementation of PDS in
Lakshadweep have been received.
As part of technological reforms, the scheme of End-to-End Computerization of PDS has
been implemented all over the country. A significant progress has been achieved at the national
level in terms of 100% digitization of ration cards, installation of electronic Point of Sale (ePoS)
devices, implementation of One Nation One Ration Card, computerisation of supply chain
management, online grievance redressal systems and initiation of transparency portals that ensures
transparency and rightful targeting of NFS A beneficiaries in the country through Aadhar-biometric
authentication
+c gcSe SeSeScAnnexure-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (D OF UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 893 FOR
ANSWER ON 04.02.2026 IN THE LOK SABHA
in Thousand Tons
Year Foodgrain Allocation Offtake Distribution
Rice 5.592 4.985 0.1611
2022-23 Wheat 0.062 0.062 0
Total 5.981 5.276 0.1611
Rice 4.848 3.941 0.9301
2023-24 Wheat 0.068 0.016 0
Total 4.916 3.957 0.9301
Rice 4.978 4.878 1.3400
2024-25 Wheat 0 0 0
Total 4.978 4.878 1.3400
Rice 4.943 2.856 1.1830
2025-26
Wheat 0.044 0 0
# Total 4.988 2.856 1.1389
Note (#) Offtake and Distribution data offoodgrains for 2025-26 is upto December, 2025.