**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Starred Question No. 179 raised in the Lok Sabha on February 11th, 2026, concerning the quality of foodgrains supplied under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Telangana. The response, provided by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, addresses queries regarding complaints, quality checks, corrective measures, and steps to improve quality assurance. The statement was laid on the Table of the House.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Complaints and Quality:**
* No complaints were received regarding the quality of foodgrains supplied under PDS in Telangana during the last three years and the current year.
* **Procurement and Distribution:**
* Foodgrains for the central pool are procured by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State Agencies through Centralized and Decentralized Procurement, following specifications by the Department of Food and Public Distribution.
* Telangana is a Decentralized Procurement (DCP) state, where the state government directly purchases, stores, and distributes foodgrains under PDS after quality checks.
* **Quality Checks:**
* Joint teams comprising FCI and the Telangana state government conduct quality checks at storage points.
* The number of inspections conducted and the quantity found unfit for human consumption (MT) are as follows:
* 2022-23: 542 inspections, NIL unfit for consumption.
* 2023-24: 380 inspections, NIL unfit for consumption.
* 2024-25: 482 inspections, NIL unfit for consumption.
* 2025-26 (till Jan 2026): 268 inspections, NIL unfit for consumption.
* **Compliance and Penalties:**
* Food Safety Departments of States/UTs conduct surveillance, monitoring, inspection, and sampling of food products under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
* Food Business Operators (FBOs) violating FSS Act provisions face penalties.
* **Quality Standards and Vigilance:**
* The Department has issued a Quality Control Manual for maintaining foodgrain quality from procurement to distribution.
* Section 29 of the National Food Security Act 2013 provides for Vigilance Committees at various levels to ensure transparency and accountability.
* **Technology and Transparency:**
* Ration cards/beneficiaries database have been fully digitized.
* A transparency portal, online grievance redressal facility, and toll-free number are available.
* Fair Price Shops (FPSs) are automated using ePoS devices with biometric/Aadhaar authentication.
* The Mera Ration App enhances transparency and accessibility in Public Distribution System.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Government of Telangana**
**Impact:**
The State Government is responsible for direct procurement, storage, and distribution of foodgrains under PDS.
**Action Required:**
The State Government must continue to conduct 100% quality checks.
**Stakeholder: Food Corporation of India (FCI)**
**Impact:**
FCI is responsible for procuring foodgrains under Centralized Procurement, ensuring adherence to quality specifications.
**Action Required:**
The FCI must continue to participate in quality checks with the State Government.
**Stakeholder: Food Business Operators (FBOs)**
**Impact:**
FBOs are subject to compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and may face penalties for violations.
**Action Required:**
FBOs must maintain compliance.
**Stakeholder: Beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System (PDS)**
**Impact:**
The digitalization and automation initiatives aim to enhance transparency and accessibility to the PDS for beneficiaries.
**Action Required:**
Beneficiaries can use the Mera Ration App to view their entitlements centrally.
Key Entities Referenced
Public Distribution System (PDS): A government-run food security system providing subsidized foodgrains and essential items to the poor.
Food Corporation of India (FCI): Central agency responsible for procurement, storage, and distribution of foodgrains under the PDS.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution: The primary ministry responsible for the administration of the PDS and related policies.
Telangana: The state where the quality of PDS foodgrains is being assessed.
Food Safety and Standards Act 2006: Act that sets the quality and safety parameters to ensure food safety.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 179
TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 1 TH FEBRUARY, 2026
QUALITY OF FOODGRAINS IN PDS
#179. DR. I(ADIYAM KAVYA:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a): whether the Government has received any reports/complaints regarding the quality of
foodgrains supplied under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Telangana during the last
three years and the current year and if so, the details thereof;
(b): the details of inspections/quality checks conducted by Central agencies/ Food Corporation
of India (FCI) and the number of instances of quality deviations found in respect of supplies to
Telangana, year-wise;
(c): the details of action taken by the Government including advisories issued and corrective
measures undertaken in coordination with the State Government against erring entities, if any;
and
(d): the steps taken by the Government to improve quality assurance, transparency and end-
to-end monitoring of the PDS supply chain in Telangana?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION AND
MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
(SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the HouseSTATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE STARRED
QUESTION NO. “179 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 11.02.2026 IN THE LOK SABHA
(a): No complaint received regarding quality of foodgrains supplied under the Public
Distribution System (PDS) in Telangana during the last three years and the current year.
(b) and (c): The foodgrain meant for central pool are procured by the Food Corporation of India
(FCI) as part of Centralized Procurement and State Agencies through Decentralized Procurement
strictly as per the uniform specification formulated by the Department of Food and Public
Distribution. The Telangana is a DCP state and the state Government itself undertakes direct
purchase after 100% quality checks, stores and distributes the foodgrains under PDS and other
welfare schemes
In addition, the details on the quality checks conducted at storage points by the joint teams
comprising FCI and state Government ofTelangana during the last three years and current year are
as under:
Crop year I No. of inspection conducted Quantity found beyond unfit for human
consumption (MT)
2022-23 NIL
2023-24
2024-25
2025-26 (till
Jan 2026)
In addition, the regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of
various food products including foodgrains 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 200.6 and
Regulations made there under. Any Food Business Operators (FBOs) found in contravention of the
provisions of the FSS Act, 2006, and Regulations made thereunder face penal actions as per the
provisions of the Act.
(d): The Department has formulated and issued a Quality Control Manual to uniformly
maintain the quality standards of foodgrains from procurement, storage and its distribution to the
eligible beneficiaries thrQugh various social security programmes of~ GoT. The section 29 of
National Food Security Act 2013 provides for constitution of Vigilance Committees at the State,district, block and fair price shop levels for ensuring transparency and proper functioning of
Targeted Public Distribution System and accountability of the functionaries involved in the system.
Further, as part of the technology driven TPDS reforms with the aim to enhance transparency and
efficiency in the TPDS, ration cards/beneficiaries database have been completely digitized (100%)
in all States/UTs. The transparency portal and online grievance redressal facility/ Toll- free
number is available in all States/UTs. Further, for better tracking of foodgrains distribution, all
Fair Price Shops (FPSs) have been automated by installing ePoS devices for the distribution of
foodgrains in a transparent manner (electronically) through biometric/Aadhaar authentication of
beneficiaries. Also, the Mera Ration App has been launched by the Department of Food and Public
Distribution (DFPD), which enhances transparency and accessibility in Public Distribution
System. It allows beneficiaries to log in using the Aadhaar number of the Head of the Family and
view ration entitlements centrally.
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