Lok Sabha Question No. 1781 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-30
Subject: Adulteration in PDS System
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Dr. Alok Kumar Suman

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

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1781

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2025

## ADULTERATION  IN PDS SYSTEM

## 1781. DR. ALOK  KUMAR  SUMAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware about adulteration of  food items distributed through the Public Distribution  System (PDS) in the country;

- (b) if  so, the details thereof;

- (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  measures to  check  the  adulteration  in food distributed through the PDS, if  so, the details thereoe

- (d) whether the Government has taken steps to improve  efficiency,  reduce leakages and reach the maximum number of  food items to the people in  the PDS and if  so, the details thereof;

- (e) the details about the integration of  PDS through the digital technology in the urban areas as well  as local  areas;

- (f) whether the digitization  of PDS has brought out the transparency  to the people of the country that are getting benefits from the PDS; and

- (g) if  so, the details thereon

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a) to (c): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSS AI)  is mandated to lay down science based standards for articles  of  food  and  to  regulate their  manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to  ensure availability of  safe and wholesome food for human consumptron.

Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of  various food products are conducted throughout the year by the officials  of Food Safety Departments of the respective States/ UTs  to  check compliance with  the quality  and safety parameters and other requirements as laid  down  under Food Safety and Standards Act,  2006, and Regulations made thereunder.

(d)  to  (g):  Targeted Public  Distribution  System (TPDS)  is  operated under  the  joint responsibility of  the  Central and the  State/UT Governments. Central Governrne]nt is responsible for  procurement,  allocation and transportation of  foodgrains upto the designated depots of the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The operational responsibilities for intra.-state allocation and distribution  of  foodgrains within  the  States/UTs, identification of  eligible beneficiaries, issuance of  ration cards, supervision and monitoring of  the Fair  Price Shops (FPSs) etc. rest with  the concerned  State/UT  Governments.

Further, as part  of the  technology driven Public Distribution  System (PDS) reforms, with the aim to improve the efficiency and reduce leakages  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  StatesrUTs (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.

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.

88+8