**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 738 in Lok Sabha on February 4, 2026, regarding the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Rajasthan. It provides details on the distribution of foodgrains, particularly wheat, under the PDS in Rajasthan over the last two years, as well as the expenditure incurred and the number of complaints received regarding substandard wheat distribution. There are no explicit action items or deadlines mentioned for specific stakeholders within the document.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Wheat Distribution in Rajasthan (Last Two Years):**
* Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): 4.89 lakh metric tonnes (LMT)
* Priority Household (PHH): 45.73 lakh metric tonnes (LMT)
* Total wheat distributed: 50.62 lakh metric tonnes (LMT)
* **Expenditure on Foodgrains:**
* The Department of Food & Public Distribution reimburses the expenditure incurred by FCI and DCP States.
* Rajasthan, a Non-DCP State, receives funds directly from FCI.
* Expenditure incurred on foodgrains provided by FCI to Rajasthan under PMGKAY and other schemes:
* 2023-24: Rs. 6487.48 Crore
* 2024-25: Rs. 7111.14 Crore
* **National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013:**
* Free foodgrains (rice, wheat, or coarse grains) are distributed to eligible beneficiaries under NFSA.
* No proposal to include more commodities under the Act is under consideration.
* AAY households are entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains per family per month.
* PHH are entitled to 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month, free of cost.
* No proposal for enhancement of the entitlement of beneficiaries is under consideration.
* **Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS):**
* TPDS under NFSA, 2013, is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and State/ Union Territory (UT) Governments.
* Operational responsibilities (allocation, beneficiary identification, ration cards, fair price shop licenses, etc.) rest with the State/ UT Governments.
* Complaints related to TPDS are forwarded to the concerned State/ UT Governments.
* **Complaints Regarding Substandard Wheat:**
* The Department does not maintain or compile specific complaint cases related to the distribution of substandard wheat.
* The number of complaints/grievances sent to the State Government of Rajasthan from January 2021 to December 2025:
* 2021: 54
* 2022: 72
* 2023: 93
* 2024: 121
* 2025: 148
**Impact Analysis**
**Central Government**
* **Impact:** Required to allocate and provide funds for foodgrain distribution in Rajasthan.
* **Action Required:** Continue to allocate budget and release funds to FCI and Rajasthan for the procurement and distribution of foodgrains under PMGKAY, NFSA, and other relevant schemes.
**State Government of Rajasthan**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the operational aspects of TPDS, including allocation, beneficiary identification, and fair price shop management.
* **Action Required:** Address the increasing number of complaints related to substandard wheat distribution, as well as handle complaints related to TPDS.
**Food Corporation of India (FCI)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing foodgrains to the State Government of Rajasthan for distribution.
* **Action Required:** Continue to provide foodgrains to the State Government of Rajasthan.
**Beneficiaries (AAY and PHH Households)**
* **Impact:** Entitled to subsidized foodgrains under AAY and PHH schemes.
* **Action Required:** Continue to avail subsidized foodgrains as per the entitlement under AAY and PHH schemes.
**Ministry of Finance (MoF)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for budgetary allocation for food subsidy.
* **Action Required:** Make budgetary allocation for food subsidy.
Key Entities Referenced
Public Distribution System (PDS): A food security system in India distributing subsidized food and non-food items to the poor.
National Food Security Act 2013: Indian Act aiming to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of the country's population.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution: The Indian ministry responsible for food management, consumer protection, and price control.
Rajasthan: Indian state where the PDS scheme is being implemented and inquired about.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): A scheme under PDS to provide highly subsidized food grains to the poorest families.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 738
TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH FEBRUARY, 2026
PDS IN RAJASTHAN
t738. SHRI RAJKUMAR ROAT:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a): the amount and the names of foodgrains distributed in Rajasthan under the Food and
Public Distribution System (PDS) during the last two years including annual budget
expenditures thereof;
(b): whether the Government intends to include other coarse grains (such as millet, sorghum,
etc.) and other nutritious food items in the list of foodgrains distributed under the said scheme
and if so, the time by which these are likely be included and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c): whether five kg of wheat is being distributed per person to each family;
(d): whether the Government 'intends to increase the quantity of wheat distributed per person
and if so, the time by which it is likely be done and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e): the number of complaints regarding the distribution of sub-standard wheat have been
received in Rajasthan during the last five years and the number of complaints resolved district-
W lse?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a): Under the Public Distribution System (PDS), wheat has been distributed in the State of
Rajasthan during the last two years as under:
• Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): 4.89 lakh metric tonnes (LNIT)
• Priority Household (PHH): 45.73 lakh metric tonnes (LMT)
• Total wheat distributed: 50.62 lakh metric tonnes (LMT)
The Department of Food & Public Distribution reimburses the expenditure incurred by FCI
and DCP States on the procurement and distribution of food grain distributed under PMGKAY &various (lol schemes to all eligible beneficiaries. Further, funds are also released by Food
Corporation of India (FCI) to the States for the quantum of food-grains handed over to them by
States under Central Pool. The aforesaid food subsidy released to DCP States & FCI is made as per
budgetary allocation made by Ministry of Finance (MDF). Rajasthan being a Non-DCP State
receives funds directly from FCI on account of food grains delivered by State to FCI. Further State
Government lift the quantity for distribution of food grains (wheat and rice) under various Gol
schemes upto allocation quantity. The details of expenditure incurred on FCI on account of food
grains provided by FCI to State Government of Rajasthan for the purpose of distribution under
PMGKAY and various Gol schemes during the last 2 years are as below:
Year Expenditure incurred (Rs. In Crore)
2023-24 6487.48
2024-25 7111.14
(b): Under the National Food Security Act 2013, free of cost foodgrains are distributed to
eligible beneficiaries. The term ’'foodgrains" is defined as rice, wheat or coarse grains or any
combination thereof conforming to such quality norms as may be determined, by order, by the
Central Government from time to time. At present, no proposal to include more commodities under
the Act is under consideration of the Central Government.
(c) & (d): Under the Act, while Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute
poorest of the poor are entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains, per family per month, Priority Households
(PHH) are entitled to 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month, free of cost. At present, no proposal
for enhancement of the entitlement of beneficiaries is under consideration of the Central
Government.
(e): 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 of foodgrains to
eligible beneficiaries under ofTPDS, issuance of license to Fair Price Shop dealers, the supervision
over and monitoring of functioning of FPSs of 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 and Division
Section of the Department for inquiry and appropriate action.
Further, specific complaint cases related to the distribution of substandard wheat are not
maintained or compiled by the Department. Moreover, a statement showing number of
complaints/grievances sent to the State Government of Rajasthan from January, 2021 to December,
2025 is as follow:
Year 202 1 2022 2023 2024 2025
No of 54 72 93 121 148
Complaints
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