Parliament Question: Quality of foodgrains distributed under PDS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 363 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3RD FEBRUARY, 2026 QUALITY OF FOODGRAINS DISTRIBUTED UNDER PDS 363 SHRI RAGHAV CHADHA: Will the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution be pleased to state (a): whether any issues relating to the quality or supply of foodgrains under the Public Distribution System have been reported by Government and if so, the details thereof; (b): the details on the arrangements made by Government under PDS for quality control at storage depots and Fair Price Shops; (c): whether there are any arrangements in place for inspection, sampling and quality assurance, and if so, the details thereof; and (d): the details on the number of complaints received and action taken during the last three years, State-wise and year-wise? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a): No issues have been reported relating to the quality or supply of foodgrains under Public Distribution System. (b): The Department has formulated and issued a Quality Control Manual to uniformly maintain the quality standards offoodgrains from procurement, storage and its distribution to the eligible beneficiaries through various social security programmes of GoI. (c) Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of various food products under the Public Distribution System are being carried out by the Food Safety Departments of the respective States/UTs to check compliance with the quality and safety parameters laid down under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Regulations made there under. (d) No quality related complaint received during last three years. Under TPDS, every State Government is required to put in place an internal grievance redressal mechanism which may include call centres, help lines, designation of nodal officers, or such other mechanism as may be prescribed. Whenever any complaints are received in this Department from any source, they are forwarded to the concerned State/UT Governments for inquiry and appropriate action at their end $8888