In response to Unstarred Question No. 844 raised by Shri Arun Govil, regarding proposals to provide advances to Union/State Governments and Public Sector Undertaking employees for purchasing foodgrains for one year (recoverable in ten installments) to reduce the burden of procurement, transportation, storage, re-transportation and distribution, and the potential reduction in expenditure compared to the existing system and the expected implementation timeframe the Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (Shrimati Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya) stated that no such proposal is currently under consideration by the Government. The question was to be answered on February 4th, 2026.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution: The central ministry responsible for the procurement, storage, and distribution of foodgrains, which is the subject of the question.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Indian Parliament where the question regarding foodgrain purchasing was raised.
Purchasing of Foodgrains: The specific topic under discussion, related to a proposal to provide advances for foodgrain purchases.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 844
TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH FEBRUARY, 2026
PURCHASING OF FOODGRAINS
t844. SHRI ARUN GOVIL:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a): whether there is any proposal by the Government to provide an advance to Union/State
Governments and Public Sector Undertaking employees for purchasing foodgrains for one year
which is likely to be recovered in ten instalments, with a view to reducing the burden of
procurement, transportation, storage, re-transportation and distribution currently undertaken by
the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution;
(b): whether expenditure is likely to be reduced by the implementation of the said scheme as
compared to the existing system; and
(C): if so, the time by which the Government is likely to implement the said scheme?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a) to (c): At present, no such proposal is under consideration by the Government.
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