**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding the modernization and strengthening of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Odisha, to be answered on December 17, 2025. It outlines the extent of digitalization, Aadhaar authentication, online tracking, and grievance redressal mechanisms in place. The report details the current status and actions taken by the government in these areas.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Digitalization and Automation:**
* 100% of ration cards/beneficiary databases have been digitized across all States/UTs.
* 99.9% of ration cards have been seeded with Aadhaar.
* 85.6% of beneficiaries have completed eKYC.
* 99.8% of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) have been automated using ePoS devices.
* Anna Sahayata (WhatsApp and IVRS-based grievance redressal), Mera Ration Mobile App, and Anna Mitra mobile app have been introduced.
* Depot Darpan Portal launched for real-time monitoring of food grain storage depots.
* Anna Chakra - PDS supply chain optimization tool deployed in all 36 States/UTs.
* **ePoS Implementation in Odisha:**
* 100% (13,926) of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in Odisha have been automated with ePoS devices.
* District-wise list of automated FPSs is available in the Annexure.
* **Aadhaar Authentication:**
* 100% of ration cards in Odisha have been seeded with Aadhaar.
* 97.84% of distribution of food grains under NFSA scheme is through Aadhaar authentication.
* Offline modes are used in ePoS devices where network issues are present.
* States/UTs advised to not deny subsidized foodgrains to genuine beneficiaries due to Aadhaar issues.
* **Beneficiary Identification:**
* Responsibility for identifying eligible/ineligible households lies with State/UT Governments under NFSA.
* States/UTs must frame inclusion/exclusion guidelines and periodically update beneficiary lists.
* **Real-time Tracking:**
* Doorstep delivery in Odisha is tracked seamlessly from the State Food Storage Godown software in real-time.
* Gate Pass lands in the ePoS of the FPS Dealer upon dispatch, confirming delivery.
* **Grievance Redressal:**
* Multiple initiatives are running, including the Mera Ration mobile app, NFSA portal, Anna Sahayata, and CPGRAMS.
* Under Anna Sahayata, 18,532 grievances were received, with a 40% resolution rate.
* In CPGRAMS, Odisha received 109 PDS-related grievances, with 3 resolved and 106 pending.
**Impact Analysis**
**State/UT Governments**
* **Impact:** Responsible for identifying beneficiaries, framing inclusion/exclusion guidelines, and updating beneficiary lists under NFSA.
* **Action Required:** Review and update beneficiary lists according to guidelines, and ensure no genuine beneficiary is denied foodgrains due to Aadhaar-related issues.
**PDS Beneficiaries:**
* **Impact:** Entitled to receive subsidized foodgrains through a modernized and digitized PDS system. Can lodge grievances and check entitlements via various platforms.
* **Action Required:** Utilize available grievance redressal mechanisms (Anna Sahayata, Mera Ration App, CPGRAMS) to report issues and use the Mera Ration App to check their entitlements.
**Fair Price Shop (FPS) Dealers**
* **Impact:** Involved in the automated distribution of foodgrains through ePoS devices. Also able to run day-to-day operations using the Anna Mitra mobile app.
* **Action Required:** Ensure ePoS devices are integrated with weighing scales and accurately record and distribute foodgrains.
**Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD)**
* **Impact:** Oversees the modernization and implementation of PDS across the country.
* **Action Required:** Continue to monitor the performance of PDS, address pending grievances in States/UTs, and further promote integration of ePoS devices with weighing scales.
**Odisha Government**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the status of digitization, ePoS implementation, Aadhaar seeding, grievance redressal, and real-time tracking within the State.
* **Action Required:** Address the 106 pending PDS-related grievances reported in CPGRAMS, and improve the resolution rate of grievances in the State.
Key Entities Referenced
Public Distribution System (PDS): A government-run program in India that provides subsidized food and essential items to the poor.
Odisha: Indian state where the strengthening of the PDS is focused in this context.
National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: Indian legislation that provides subsidized food grains to a large section of the population.
Fair Price Shops (FPSs): Government-approved shops that distribute subsidized food and essential items under the Public Distribution System.
Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD): Government department responsible for the PDS scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2832
TO BE ANSWERED ON 17TH DECEMBER, 2025
STRENGTHENING OF PDS IN ODISHA
2832. SHRI ANANTA NAYAK:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC
DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:
(a): the extent of digitalization and automation undertaken to modernize and
strengthen the delivery mechanisms under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in
Odisha;
(b): whether all Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in Odisha have been equipped with electronic
Point of Sale (ePoS) devices and if so, the status of ePoS-enabled shops, district-wise;
(c): the percentage of ration cardholders in Odisha presently covered under Aadhaar-
authenticated PDS transactions and the details of the steps taken by the Government to
address exclusion issues in remote or tribal areas of the said State;
(d): whether online tracking systems have been implemented in Odisha for the real-
time monitoring of foodgrains allocation, movement and delivery at the FPS level and if
so, the outcomes thereof; and
(e): whether the Government has established Grievance Redressal Portals or Mobile
Apps for PDS consumers in Odisha and if so, the number of complaints received and
resolved through these systems?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a): Present Status of modernization efforts of Public Distribution System (PDS) by the
Department across the country including Odisha are as follows –
• Ration cards/beneficiary’s database have been completely digitized (100%) in all
States/UTs.
Aadhaar seeding of 99.9% ration cards have been completed in the country.
•
• All States/UTs have been regularly urged to complete the eKYC so that the benefits of the
scheme reaches the entitled beneficiaries. The eKYC has been completed for 85.6 %
beneficiariesNearly 5.50 Lakh (99.8%) out of total 5.51 Lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the country
•
have been automated by installing ePoS devices for the distribution of foodgrains through
Aadhaar biometric authentication of beneficiaries.
Introduction of Anna Sahayata, an advanced AI-enabled WhatsApp and IVRS-based
•
grievance redressal system, allowing beneficiaries to lodge complaints in their own
language using these platforms.
Mera Ration Mobile App, which enables beneficiaries to check their entitlements, member
•
and demographic details, last month’s distribution status, nearby FPS location, and to lodge
grievances directly through the app
• Anna Mitra mobile app enables the field level functionaries as well FPS dealers to run day
to day PDS operations.
• For effective and efficient implementation of the distribution process, the department has
urged the States to integrate the ePOS devices in FPS with weighing scales.
The Depot Darpan Portal has been launched for real-time monitoring, self-assessment, and
•
grading of food grain storage depots, enhancing transparency, efficiency, and security
through IoT sensors, CCTV, geotagged data, and AI for evaluating infrastructure (safety,
environment) and operations (profitability, stock loss). Launched by the Department of
Food & Public Distribution (DFPD), it provides performance ratings and drives continuous
improvement in India's food security system.
Anna Chakra – PDS supply chain optimization tool developed in collaboration with IIT
•
Delhi and WFP has been successfully deployed in all 36 States/UTs. Tool has led to
reduction in transportation costs and improved efficiency.
(b): At present, a total number of 13,926 (100%) Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in Odisha have been
automated by installing ePoS devices for the distribution of foodgrains in a transparent manner
(electronically) through biometric/ Aadhaar authentication of beneficiaries. The district-wise Fair
Price Shops (FPSs) automated in Odisha is at Annexure.
(c): At present in Odisha, 100% Ration cards have been seeded with Aadhar and 97.84% of
distribution of food grains under the NFS A scheme is through Aadhaar authentication. Foodgrains
are being distributed using offline modes in ePOS devices where network issues are present in
remote tribal areas. Further, all States/UTs have been advised that no genuine beneficiary/
household shall be denied from receiving entitled quota of subsidized foodgrains due to failure'of
biometric/ Aadhaar authentication due to network/ connectivity/ linking related issues, other
technical reasons or poor biometrics of the beneficiary.
Under Section 10 of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, the responsibility for
identifying eligible and ineligible households rests entirely with the State/UT Governments. As
per Section 10(1), each State/UT is required to frame its own inclusion and exclusion guidelines
and identify Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) within the coverage
limits determined under the Act. Further, Section 10(2) mandates that States/UTs must
periodically review and update their beneficiary lists in accordance with these guidelines.
Accordingly, the statutory authority for identification, validation, and updation of NFS A
beneficiaries lies exclusively with the respective State/UT Governments.
(d): As reported by Government of Odisha, the doorstep delivery is tracked seamlessly from
the State Food Storage Godown software application in real-time. Once stock is dispatched, the
Gate Pass lands remotely in the ePoS of the FPS Dealer. Once the consignment reaches physicallyat FPS Dealer's doorstep, Dealer accepts it and the response are pushed from ePoS to Godown
interface confirming delivery.
(e): The Government of India is running multiple initiatives for citizens to lodge grievances,
such as the Nlera Ration mobile app, the NFS A portal, Anna Sahayata (WhatsApp and IVRS) and a
dedicated portal named 'Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System’
(CPGRAMS).
Under Anna Sahayata, a total of 18,532 grievances were received, out of which 7,452 have
been resolved, reflecting an overall resolution rate of 40%.
In CPGRAMS, Odisha received a total of 109 PDS-related grievances, out of which 03
grievances have been disposed of, and 106 grievances remain pending with the State.
SeScSes eeAnnexu re
The district-wise Fair Price Shops (FPSs) automated in Odisha
S. No. District Fair Price Shops FPSs)
ANUGUL 518
1
2 BALANG IR 804
3 BALESHWAR 985
4 BARGARH 359
5 BHADRAK 503
6 BOUDH 133
7 CUTTAC K 991
8 DEOGARH 84
DHENKANAL 650
9
10 GAJAPATI 365
11 GANJAM 972
12 JAGATSINGHAPU R 597
13 JAJAPU R 758
14 JHARSUG UDA 160
15 KALAHAN Dl 339
16 KANDHARnAL 192
17 KENDRAPARA 583
18 KENDUJ HAR 415
19 KHORDHA 560
20 KORAPUT 408
21 MALKANGIRI 119
22 MAYURBHANJ 732
23 NABARANGPU R 477
24 NAYAGARH 301
25 NUAPADA 159
26 PURI 608
27 RNXNGNVN 238
28 SAMBALPUR 223
29 SONEPUR 122
30 SUNDARGARH 571
Total 13926