Lok Sabha Question No. 2834 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: NFSA
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Balwant Baswant Wankhade

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2834 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6Tll AUGUST, 2025

## NFSA

## 2834. SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a): whether the Government is planning to restore regular allocation of foodgrains under the  National Food  Security Act (NFSA), if  so,  the  details  thereof and  if not,  the  reasons therefor;
- (b): whether the Government is proposing to allow  the Fair Price Shop dealers to  incur losses at the rate of  1 kg per quintal, keeping in view the reality of handling losses, so that they may not be held accountable for the shortfall in stock;
- (G): if  so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d): whether the Government is proposing to allow the sale of other essential commodities in  addition to  NFSA  through Fair Price Shops without giving any additional, financial or administrative  liability to the States/Union Territories;  and
- (e): if  so, the details thereoF

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a): The allocation of foodgrains to States/Union Territories (UTs) under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA)  is made based on the identification  of beneficiaries  reported by the States/UTs within the State/UT-wise coverage of population determined-by the then Planning Commission, and foodgrains entitlement prescribed under the Act  i.e. 35 kg per household per month for  households covered under Antyodaya Anna Yojana and 5 kg per person per month for  Priority households. The Act further provides that if  on the above basis, annual foodgrains allocation to any State/UT is lower than the average annual offtake during 2010-11 to  2012-13 under erstwhile  normal Targeted Public Distribution  System, the same shall be protected, as 'Tide-over''  allocation.

As  and  when  requests are  received from States/UTs for revision  of  foodgrains allocation under the Act  on account of  addition of  new beneficiaries, within  the ceiling of beneficiaries determined for that State, the same are examined and revised allocation orders are issued as per the extant policy.

(b) & (c): As per sub-clause (2) of Clause 11 of  the TPDS (Control) Order, 2015, the State Government shall  ensure that  stocks of  foodgrains under the  Targeted Public Distribution System, as issued from the Corporation godowns, are not replaced or tampered with during storage, transit or any other stage till  delivery to the ration card holder and any decision to  provide compensation to  FPS dealers for  handling losses rests with  the State Government. State Governments vide  letter dated 10.05.2021 are advised to take necessary action in  this  regard to  ensure that  handling losses to  FPS dealers are minimized. Any decision to  provide compensation to  FPS dealers for  handling losses rests with  the State Government.

(d) & (e): The Targeted Public Distribution System  (TPDS) under the National Food Security  Act,  2013 (NFSA) is operated under the joint  responsibility  of the Central  and the State/UT Governments.  The operational responsibility  including issuance of  licenses to Fair Price Shops (FPSs), supervision and monitoring of the functioning of  Fair Price Shops etc., rest with  the concerned State/UT Government. As  per sub-clause (9) of Clause 9 of  TPDS (Control)  Order, 2015, the State Government shall allow  sale of commodities other than the foodgrains distributed  under the TPDS at the fair price shops to improve the viability  of the fair  price  shop operations.

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