Lok Sabha Question No. 1915 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-11
Subject: Inclusion of Millets and Coarse Grains in the Public Distribution System
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Dr. Byreddy Shabari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1915

TO BE ANSWERED ON lITH  FEBRUARY, 2026

## INCLUSION OF MILLETS  AND COARSE GRAINS IN THE PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

## 1915. DR. BYREDDY SHABARI:

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

- (a): whether the Government is aware that the High-Level  Committee on Reorienting the Role and  Restructuring  of  the  Food  Corporation of  India  (Shanta  Kumar  Committee)  recommended moving beyond the rice and wheat-centric Public Distribution  System  (PDS) to include millets  and other nutritious coarse grains;
- (b): if  so, the steps taken by the Government to implement these recommendations including procurement,  storage  and distribution  ofmillets and coarse grains through the PDS ;
- (c): the details of  millets  and coarse grains currently  being procured and distributed  under the PDS during the last five  years, State/UT-wise;
- (d): the constraints, if  any, in  scaling up the inclusion of  millets and coarse grains under the National Food Security Act; and
- (e): whether the  Government proposes to  further diversify the  PDS basket to  improve nutritional  outcomes  and promote climate-resilient  agriculture and if  so, the details thereoP

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a) and (b): A  High Level Committee under the chairmanship of  Shri Shanta Kumar was constituted for Re-orienting the Role and Re-structuring of Food Corporation of India.

Procurement of coarse grains is regulated by guidelines dated 07. 12.2021/28.03.2022/08.09.2023  for allocation, distribution,  and disposal of coarse grains (Jowar, Bajra, Maize & Ragi) and 6 minor millets procured by the States/FCI. Under these guidelines, States are allowed to  procure these commodities in  Decentralized Procurement mode from  farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP) for distribution under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)/Other Welfare  Schemes(C)WS).

- (c): The State-wise and year wise details of quantity of coarse grains procured during last 5 years is enclosed at Annexure I.

The State-wise coarse grains distributed under PDS during the last five  years is enclosed at Annexure ll.

- (d): No, Sir.
- (e): Government has  already  diversified  the  PDS  basket  by including climate-resilient coarsegrains i.e.  (Jowar, Bajra, Ragi and Maize) and 6  minor millets: Foxtail Millet (Kangani/Kakun), Proso Millet  (Cheena), Kodo Millet  (Kodo), little  millet  (Kutki),  Buck-wheat (kuttu) and Ameranthus (Chaulai).

>Ic $ 8 + 8

!nlentm-mr on (procurement tiN 29T21)26

## STATEMENT SHOWING PROCUREMENT OF COARSEGRAINS

| [ COMMODITY     | Andhra Pradesh   |          |        | Karnataka     | Madhya Pradesh   | Maharashtra   | Uttar Pradesh   | Odisha   | Uttarakhand   | Tamil I Nadu   | Total Procurement (MT)   | MSP(Rs./gtI)   | MSPValue (in crore)   |
|-----------------|------------------|----------|--------|---------------|------------------|---------------|-----------------|----------|---------------|----------------|--------------------------|----------------|-----------------------|
| m'AR            |                  |          |        | 80722         | = 29582          | 17784         | a               |          |               |                | 128088                   | 2620           | 335_59                |
| Mmm)            |                  |          |        | 0             | 0                | 18384         | 0               |          |               |                | 18384                    | 2620           | 48. 17                |
| BAJRA           |                  | 11515    | 150000 | 0             | 195351           | 5005          | 0               |          |               |                | 361871                   | 2150           | 778.02                |
| Rmm             |                  | 4133     |        | 0             | 0                | 88283         | 06413           |          |               |                | 198829                   | 1850           | 367.83                |
| M AIZE(Rabi'    |                  |          |        | 0             | 0                | 6486          | 0               |          |               |                | 6486                     | 1850           | 12.00                 |
| iAGI            |                  |          |        | 474098        | 0                | 0             | 0               | 20252    |               |                | 494350                   | 3295           | 1628.88               |
| Totai           |                  | 15648    | 150000 | n5            | 724933           | 135942        | 106+ 1 3        | T0252    |               |                | 1208008                  |                | 0.00                  |
| JO\A, AR        |                  |          |        | 103920        | 32393            | 20262         | C               |          |               |                | 156575                   | 2738           | 428,70                |
| TaB=iatat)?     |                  |          |        | 0             | 0                | 0             | 0               |          |               |                | 0                        | 2738           | 0.00                  |
| !BAJRA          |                  | 7284     |        | 0             | l400             | 567           | 0               |          |               |                | 1- 13251                 | 2250           | 29.81                 |
| :a7\DE          |                  | 389      |        |               | 0                | .9615         | 2763            |          |               |                | 22767                    | 1870           | 42.57                 |
| MAIZE(Rabi)     |                  |          |        |               | 0                | 0             | 0               |          |               |                | 0                        | 1870           | 0.00                  |
| RAGI            |                  |          |        | 404784        | 0                | -t 253        |                 | r--T=BaT |               |                | 437339                   | 3377           | 1476.89               |
| Total           |                  | 7673     |        | 508703        | 37793            | 40697         | 2763            | 32302    |               |                | 629931                   |                | 0.00                  |
| JOWAR           |                  | 0        |        | 76897         | 258              | 1378          | 0               |          |               |                | 78533                    | 2970           | 233.24                |
| JOt1/AR(Rat)i ) |                  | B85      |        | 0             | 0                | 2358          | 0               |          |               |                | 6664                     | 297G           | 19.79                 |
| BAJkA.          |                  | 766      | 81 147 |               | 0                | 10            | 43437           |          |               |                | 125360                   | 2350           | 294.60                |
| [mm             |                  | 56645    |        |               | 0                | O             | 0               |          |               |                | 56645                    | 2350           | 133.12                |
| 1 MAIZE         |                  | ()       |        |               | ()               | 48            | O               |          |               |                | 48                       | 1962           | 0.10                  |
| MAIZE(RaL>i)    |                  | 197      |        | 0             | 0                | 12877 636     | 0 0             |          |               |                | 13074                    | 1962           | 25.65 1634.23         |
| RAGI Total      | 4 3625           | 0 -58293 | 81147  | 454404 53130} | 0 258            | 17308         | 43437           |          | m-r5= I       |                | 456745 737069            | 3578           | 0.00                  |
| '10WAR          | 24466            |          |        | 85402         |                  | 462           | 13340           |          |               |                | 1 23670                  | 3180           | 393.27                |
| JO-\VAR(Rabl)   | 4903             | 2946     |        | 105019        |                  | 86624.9       |                 |          |               |                | 199493                   | 3 1 80         | 634.39                |
| BAJRA           |                  | 333591   | 231334 |               |                  |               | 355038          |          |               |                | 619731                   | 2500           | 1549.33               |
|                 |                  | 76726.5  |        |               |                  |               |                 |          |               |                | 76726                    | 2500           | 191.82                |
|                 |                  |          |        |               |                  | 25            | 445 1           |          |               |                | 4476                     | 2090           | 9.35                  |
| MAIZE(Rabi)     |                  |          |        |               |                  | 56            |                 |          |               |                | 56                       | 2090           | 0.12                  |
| RAGI            | 376              | 1 o.75   | 1      | 1 226576      |                  | 189           | 0,7             |          | m9            |                | 230920                   | 3846           | 888.12                |
| Total           | 29745            | [0       | 3      |               |                  | 87357         | 372830          |          | 8             | 1889           | 1255073                  |                | 0.00                  |
| JOWAR           |                  | 27 1     |        | 115352        | 908              | 937           | 46942           |          |               |                | 164166                   | 337 1          | 553.40                |
| JOWAR(RatE)     | 35402            |          | 53001  | 78676         |                  | 131311        |                 |          |               |                | 250689                   | 3371           | 845.07                |
| BAJRA           |                  | 38181    | 156000 | 1 I           |                  |               | IOI.311         |          |               |                | 261129                   | 2625           | 685.46                |
| mA(RAI)         |                  | 82223    | 1      |               |                  |               |                 |          |               |                | 82223                    | 2625           | 215.84                |
| MAIZE           |                  |          |        |               |                  | 1             |                 |          |               |                | 1                        | 2225           | 0.00                  |
| MAIZE(Rabi)     |                  | 118      |        |               |                  | 51            | 19312           |          |               |                | 19481                    | 2225           | 43.35                 |
| RAGI            | 2051             | 5        |        | 346079        |                  | 233           |                 | 40000    | 3139 1        | 4050           | 393711                   | 4290           | 1689.02               |
| RAGI (Rabi)     | 902              |          |        |               |                  |               |                 |          |               |                | 902                      | 4290           | 3.87                  |
| Total           | 365091           | 914911   | 156000 | 540107        | 908              | 132533        | 167565          | 40000    | 3139 1        | 4050           | 1172302                  |                | 0.00                  |
| JOWAR           |                  |          |        |               | 379              | 1112          | 43562           | :        |               |                | 45053                    | 3699           | 166,65                |
| JOW             |                  |          |        |               |                  |               |                 |          |               |                | a                        | 3699           | 0,00                  |
| BA.IRA          |                  | 13546_   | H3     |               |                  |               | 213973          |          |               |                | 227752                   | 2775           | 632.01                |
| BAJRJ\(Rabi}    |                  |          |        |               |                  |               |                 |          |               |                | 0                        | 2775           | 0.00                  |
| 2025..26* m     |                  | Is       |        |               |                  | 17677         | 13209           |          |               |                | 31401                    | 2400           | 75.36                 |
| MAIZE(Rabi}     |                  | 1        |        |               |                  |               |                 |          |               |                | 0                        | 2400           | 0.00                  |
| kAGI            | 1                | lo1      |        |               |                  |               |                 |          | 4272 1        | 966            | 5248                     | 4886           | 25.64                 |
| RAGI (Rabi)     |                  |          |        |               |                  |               |                 |          |               |                | 0                        |                | 0.00                  |
| Total +         |                  | 14071 !  | 233    | 0             | 379              | 18789         | 270744          | 0        | 2             |                | 309454                   | 4886           | 0.00                  |

Annexu re-1

FIg Irl Metric Ions

•

| CoarseGrain Distribution in Last 5 years (MT)   | CoarseGrain Distribution in Last 5 years (MT)   | CoarseGrain Distribution in Last 5 years (MT)   |   Annexure ll | Annexure ll   | Annexure ll   |   Annexure ll |
|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| State Name                                      | 2021                                            | 2022                                            |          2023 | 2024          | 2025          |         20268 |
| ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS                     | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| ANDHRA PRADESH                                  | 0                                               |                                                 |         17005 | 27278         | 28005         |          6663 |
| ARUNACHAL PRADESH                               | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| ASSAM                                           | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| BIHAR                                           | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| CHHATriSGARH                                    | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| DADAR & NAGAR HAVELI & DAMAN & DIU              | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| DELHI                                           | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| GOA                                             | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| GUJARAT                                         | 0                                               | 7835                                            |         56788 | 151579        | 91429         |            25 |
| HARYANA                                         | 95162                                           | 59977                                           |         41037 | 344817        | 217422        |             0 |
| HIIVIACHAL PRADESH                              | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| JAFVIIVIU ANDKASHMIR                            | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| JHARKHAND                                       | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| KARNATAKA                                       | 515858                                          | 474203                                          |        412564 | 401286        | 546204        |          2684 |
| KERALA                                          | 0                                               |                                                 |           487 | 16            |               |             0 |
| LADAKH                                          | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| LAKSHADWEEP                                     | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| IVIADHYA PRADESH                                | 197028                                          | 28856                                           |          2814 | 0             | 840           |             0 |
| IV]AHARASHTRA                                   | 62699                                           | 30968                                           |         16732 | 61265         | 143109        |         11024 |
| IVIANIPUR                                       | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| IVIEGHALAYA                                     | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| IVllZORAIVI                                     | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| NAGALAN D                                       | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| ODISHA                                          | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| PUDUCHERRY                                      | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| PUNJAB                                          | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| RAJASTHAN                                       | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| SIKKllVI                                        | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| TAMIL NADU                                      | 0                                               |                                                 |          4307 | 2837          | 2585          |            18 |
| TELANGANA                                       | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| TRIP U RA                                       | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             |               |             0 |
| UTrAR PRADESH                                   | 98492                                           | 2634                                            |          3342 | 371394        | 167490        |             0 |
| UTTARAKH AND                                    | 0                                               |                                                 |             0 | 0             | 2461          |             0 |
| WESTBENGAL                                      |                                                 |                                                 |             0 |               |               |             0 |