Lok Sabha Question No. 1676 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-30
Subject: Efficiency and Transparency in PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Smt. Geniben Nagaji Thakor

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

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1676

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30Tll JULY, 2025

## EFFICIENCY AND TRANSPARENCY IN PDS

## 1676. SMT. GENIBEN NAGAJI THAKOR:

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

- (a) whether the Government is taking measures to improve the efficiency and transparency of the Public Distribution  System (PDS);

- (b) if  so, the steps taken by the Government to curb leakages, fake ration cards and ensure proper delivery  offoodgrains to beneficiaries;

- (c) the details and the current status of implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 across States/UTs;

- (d) whether there is any proposal to  include more beneficiaries under the  food subsidy schemes in view of rising inflation; and

- (e) if  so, the details thereon

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI  NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

- (a) &  (b): As part of the technology driven Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) reforms, with  the aim to  improve the efficiency and transparency 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 have been implemented in all  States/UTs. Further, 99.7% ration cards are Aadhaar seeded in the country. Nearly 5.41 Lakh (99.6%) out of total 5.43 Lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the country have been automated by installing ePoS devices for the distribution of  foodgrains in a transparent manner (electronically)  through biometric/  Aadhaar authentication of beneficiaries.

(c): The National food Security Act,  2013 is being implemented in all the States/UTs aims to supplement the food requirements of upto 759/, of the rural and upto 50% of the urban population,  which  at  Census 2011 comes to  81.35 crore persons. While  Antyodaya Anna Yojana (A AY) households, which constitute poorest of the poor are entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains, per  household per  month, Priority  Households (PHH)  are entitled  to  5 kg  of foodgrains per person per month free of cost. The Coverage under the Act  is substantially high to ensure that all the vulnerable and needy sections of the society get its benefit.  At present, against the intended coverage of 81.35 crore, 80.56 crore beneficiaries are receiving  foodgrains free of cost.

(d)&  (e): Section 9 of the Act  provides that the percentage coverage under the Targeted Public Distribution System in rural  and urban areas for  each State shall be determined by the Central Government  and the  total  number  of  persons  to  be  covered  in  the  State shall  be  calculated based on the population estimates as per the census of which  the relevant figures have been published. Therefore, any revision  in the coverage under the NFS A shall be possible only  after the relevant data of the next population  Census is published.

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