Lok Sabha Question No. 2852 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Beneficiaries Covered under PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Malaiyarasan D

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2852

TO BE ANSWERED ON 6TH AUGUST, 2025

## BENEFICIARIES COVERED UNDER PDS

## 2852. SHRI MALAIYARASAN D:

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

- (a): the details of the total number of beneficiaries covered under the Public Distribution System (PDS) across the country, State-wise including Tamil Nadu;
- (b): the measures taken by the Govermnent to ensure transparency and reduce leakages in the distribution  offoodgrains  under PDS especially in Tamil Nadu;
- (c): the status of  digitisation of ration cards and installation of  e-Point of  Sale (e-POS) devices at Fair Price Shops in Tamil Nadu;
- (d): the number and nature of  complaints received related to  PDS in  Tamil  Nadu  during the last three years and the action taken on them;
- (e): whether the Government proposes any steps to improve the reach and efficiency of PDS to ensure food security in rural and urban areas of Tamil  Nadu; and
- (f) : if  so, the details thereoP

## ANSWER

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

(SHRTMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): The Public Distribution  System (PDS) is governed as per provisions of the National Food Security Act  2013, (NFS A).  A  Statement indicating the State/UT-wise coverage of beneficiaries under the NFS A  is at Annexure.
- (b) &  (c): As pall  of the technology driven Targeted Public Distribution  System (TPDS) reforms, with the  aim to enhance  transparency  and  efficiency in the  TPDS,  ration ends/beneficiaries database  have  been  compietely digitized (100%) in all States/UTs (including Tamil Nadu). The transparency portal.and online grievance redressal facility/Tollfree number have been implemented in  all  Statcs,-/UTs  (including  Tamil .Nadu). Also,  online allocation has been implemented in all  States/UTs (including Tamil Nadu) and supply chain has been computerized in 31 States/UTs - including  Tamil Nadu (exQept UTs of Chandigarh, Puducheny and Urban area of  D3dra &  Nqgm Haveli which have adopted DBT Cash Transfer scheme).

Further, for  better tracking of foodgrains distribution,  all  Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the Tamil  Nadu have been automated by installing ePoS devices for  the distribution of foodgrains in a transparent manner (electronically) through biometric/ Aadhaar authentication of beneficiaries.

(d): The complaints  related to PDS predominantly  pertain to the following  categories:

1. Inclusion/ exclusion of members in the ration card
11. Issuance of  New  Ration card/  Deletion  of  Ration card/ Change of  Category of  Ration card
111. Errors in the beneficiary details.
4. I V. Quality/  Quantity of foodgrains.
- V. Error/ delay while  biometric authentication of beneficiaries  on ePoS devices.
6. Vl. Overcharging or unauthorized collection of money by FPS (Fair Price Shop) dealers.

In  so far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, a total no. of  309 complaints  related to  PDS were received during the last three years i.e. 2022 to 2024 (i.e. 55 in 2022, 103 in 2023 and 151 in  2024). These complaints were sent to  the State Government for  inquiry and approprIate actIon.

(e) &  (f): As in part (b) & (c) above.

see SeScSe +:

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN  PARTS (a) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2852  DUE FOR ANSWER ON 06.08.2025  REGARDING 'BENEFICIARIES  COVERED UNDER PDS'.

Statement showing the State-wise coverage of  beneficiaries under NFSA

| S.No   | States/ UTs       | Present Coverage   |
|--------|-------------------|--------------------|
| 1      | Andhra Pradesh    | 268.22             |
| 2      | Arunachal Pradesh | 8.44               |
| a j    | Assam             | 247.98             |
| 4      | Bihar             | 871.16             |
| 5      | Chattisgarh       | 200.77             |
| 6      | Delhi             | 72.78              |
| 7      | Goa               | 5.32               |
| 8      |                   | 365.84             |
| 9      |                   | 126.49             |
| 10     | Himachal Pradesh  | 29.88              |
| 11     | Jharkhand         | 264.19             |
| 12     | Karnataka         | 40 1 .93           |
| 13     | Kerala            | 154.80             |
| 14     | Madhya Pradesh    | 534.79             |
| 15     | Maharashtra       | 700.17             |
| 16     | Manipur           | 20.87              |
| 17     | Meghalaya         | 2 1.46             |
| 18     | Mizoram           | 7.05               |
| 19     | Nagaland          | 14.05              |
| 20     | Odisha            | 325.17             |
| 21     | Punjab            | 141.45             |
| 22     | Rajasthan         | 440.0 1            |
| 23     | Sikkim            | 3.81               |
| 24     | Tamil Nadu        | 364.12             |
| 25     | Telangana         | 191.70             |
| 26     | Tripura           | 24.43              |
| 27     | Uttar Pradesh     | 1498.70            |
| 28     | Uttarakhand       | 61.94              |
| 29     | West Bengal       | 601.84             |
| 30     | A&N               | 0.61               |
| 31     | DNH&DD            | 2.69               |
| 32     | Lakshadweep       | 0.22               |
| 33     | Chandigarh (DBT)  | 2.99               |
| 34     | Puduchery (DBT)   | 6.34               |
| 35     | J&K               | 72.41              |
| 36     | Ladakh            | 1.44               |
|        | Total             | 8056.05            |

(in Lakh)