Lok Sabha Question No. 1682 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-30
Subject: Foodgrains Supplies by FCI
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Rakesh Rathor

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

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1682

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2025

## FOODGRAINS SUPPLIES BY FCI

## 1682. SHRI RAKESH RATHOR:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of  a recently published report in which  it  is found that nearly 28 percent of the  foodgrains supplied to the States by  the Food Corporation of  India (FCI) were either not distributed on time or did not reach the intended beneficiaries and which led to massive food losses and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is linking  this situation to the lack of monitoring,  storage and proper distribution  of the Public  Distribution  System at the State level;
- (c) if  so, whether the Government is considering to issue directions to the States for  timely distribution, digital tracking and to fixing  accountability to prevent such wastage;
- (d) whether the Government is formulating any comprehensive reform policy  regarding implementation of a centralised real-time grain tracking system; and
- (e) if  so, the details thereon

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI  NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

(a) to (e): The report of  nearly 28% of the foodgrains supplied to the States by the Food Corporation of  India (FCI) were either not distributed on time or did not reach the intended beneficiaries erroneously conflates offtake and distribution. Offtake  refers to the quantity of foodgrains lifted by the States from the Central depots, while distribution represents the delivery  of these grains to the beneficiaries.  Offtake  figures also account for  stocks in transit, buffer allocations, operational reserves and stock for other welfare schemes (OWS) which are not immediately distributed to the households. By failing to account for these distinctions, the report's estimates are  fundamentally  incorrect.

Given the robust digital  interventions on both the supply and distribution sides, the possibility  of massive food losses in the system has been effectively  eliminated.

As part of  the technology driven Public Distribution  System (PDS) reforms, with  the aim  to  improve the  efficiency and  reduce loss  in  the  PDS, 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. Also, online allocation has  been  implemented in all States/UTs (except  UTs of Chandigarh, Puducherry and Urban area ofDadra  & Nagar Haveli  which  have adopted DBT  Cash Transfer scheme) and supply chain has been computerized in 31 States/UTs.

Further, 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, ensuring rightful  targeting of beneficiaries.

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