Lok Sabha Question No. 3184 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Smart PDS Scheme
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Bharat Singh Kushwah

## ORIGINAL IN HINDI

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3184

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 19TH MARCH, 2025

## SMART PDS SCHEME

## 13 184. SHRI BHARAT SiNGH KUSHWAH:

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

- (a) the details and the name of the districts and States where the Smart PDS scheme of the Union  Government has been started as a pilot  project;
- (b) the difference between Smart PDS scheme and present PDS scheme;
- (c) the benefit of Smart (PDS) to the beneficiaries, the public and the department along with  the shortcomings in operation of current PDS;
- (d) whether the Smart PDS scheme is likely  to be implemented across the country;
- (e) if  so, the time by which it  is likely  to be implemented; and
- (f) the name of the body  through  which  it will  be run?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a) &  (b): This Department is implementing the new Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) 'Scheme for Modernization and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution  System (SMART-PDS)'  for the development and implementation of advanced integrated supply chain software in all  States/UTs. At  present,  the SMART-PDS  is in development phase. The project was started by  NIC  from  October  2024  and the  application  is  expected to  be  launched in phases from April 2025 onwards.

.....2/-

The  SMART-PDS  scheme envisages to  strengthen the  technology  infrastructure  in Public Distribution  System (PDS) to  lead the technology driven reforms and transformative change in the entire PDS ecosystem covering NFSA and State schemes. Thus, SMART-PDS is launched to sustain the Information  Technology-led Reforms to be brought in the functioning of  Public  Distribution  System (PDS)  Operations by  overcoming the state level technological limitations of PDS operations in  all  States/tiTs in  respect of IT  Hardware, Software and to institutionalize  an integrated Central  System covering  all  PDS  related operations across all States/UTs .

(c) All  PDS beneficiaries of  the country benefit from the modernization efforts of the SMART  PDS system. At  present, against the total  intended coverage of  81.35 Crore under NFSA,  80.56 Crore persons are receiving food grains free of cost under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yoj ana (PMGKAY),  which  come; to about 99.03% of .total coverage.

(d)  to  (f):  The  SMART-PDS scheme has been launched by  this  Department and to be implemented in  all  States/UTs. At  present, this Department has signed MoUs with  35 States/UTs (except Tamil Nadu, which is under process) for the SMART-PDS scheme. Further, the development of SMART  PDS is under progress and the application is expected to be launched in  phases from April  2025 onwards. NIC  is the technical partner and also developer for the SMART-PDS .

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