Lok Sabha Question No. 1593 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Fair Price Shops on ONDC Platform
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Raju Bista

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMEVr  OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1593 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 ST JULY, 2024

## FAIR PRICE SHOPS ON ONDC PLATFORM

## 1593 SHRI RAJUBISTA

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUtION wim wd,  ©rg atI VT+Xf+© fq€ulr ++ be pleased to state

- (a) the specific details on  the number of  Fair  Price Shops currently onboarded  into the Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform, State/UT-wise particularly in West Bengal;
- (b) the anticipated benefits  for  consumers and fair  price shop owners  from integrating fair  price shops into the ONDC platform, particularly in terms of transparency and efficiency;
- (c) the  details of  the  measures taken by  the  Government to  address potential challenges  in integrating fair price shops into the ONDC platform, ensuring smooth implementation and adoption; and
- (d) the details of the future plans and expansions for ONDC to enhance its coverage of fair price shops nationwide,  aiming  for  broader inclusivity and accessibility?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMB}IANIYA)

- (a): The Department of  Food and Public Distribution, Govemment  of India has launched a pilot project to integrate Fair  Price Shops (FPSs) with the Open Network  for  Digital  Commerce (ONDC) As  part of  this initiative,  11 FPSs from  Himachal Pradesh have been onboarded  onto the C)NDC network in February, 2024

(b): Integrating fair  price shops into  ONDC has the potential to  create a more transparent and efficient system for  both Fair Price Shop owners and Consumers

## Benefits for  consumer:

For consumer visiting fair price shops in rural areas, in addition to providing rations / products etc,  these shops can  become  hubs  to  digitally access national markets  through an assisted  Gommerce model

Digitisation  of  products available at fair  price shops enhances the  discoverability of  these products by consumers in that area as well  as discoverability  of  the shops themselves

## Benefits  for  fair  price shop owner:

Increased market access for  FPS shops - larger consumer base beyond its current beneficiaries

Increase  in livelihood through additional sources  of revenue  by participating in  assisted commerce model

Access to e-commerce without high commissions charged by digital marketplaces, along with the potential to  reduce logistics cost and increase the connectivity of  digital  commerce through thQ existing infrastructure of FPS across India.

(c): Workshops and training  programs have been conducted  to  assist FPS dealers in  Himachal Pradesh

(d): Presently, only the pilot  scheme has been launched to assess the viability  of  onboarding  ONDC in FPSs. The result of pilot  scheme will  then be deliberated for further expansion at pan-India  Level. The  states will lead this  scheme

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