Lok Sabha Question No. 3009 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-11
Subject: Coverage Criteria of PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Naveen Jindal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3009

## TO BE ANSWERED ON IIT ll MARCH, 2026

## COVERAGE CRITERIA OF PDS

## 3009. SHRINAVEENJINDAL:

Will  the Minister of  CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD AND  PUBLIC DISTRiBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a): whether the Government considering revising the coverage criteria of the Public, Distribution System (PDS) to include those who cannot afford a nutritious diet but currently fall outside the existing income-based cut-offs:
- (b): if  so. b-healer there are plans to  diversify  the offerings  under the PDS to  include more nutrient-dense options like millets  and seafood and if not, the reasons there-for:
- (c): the details of the coordination has been made with  bodies like NITI  Aa)'og to incorporate food affordability  indices (such as the Thali  Index) into national food targeting frameworks; and
- (d): the  status of  the  'One  Nation,  One Ration Card"  scheme in  ensuring seamless access to PDS entitlements for migrant workers across the country?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIM ATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

(a) to (c): The Public Distribution  System is now governed as per the provisions of the National Food Security Act,  2013 (NFS A).  The Act being successfully implemented in all the States/UTs, aims to  supplement the food requirements of upto 75% of the rural and upto 50% of the urban population which  at Census 2011 comes to 81.35 crore beneficiaries. The Coverage  under the Act  is substantially high to ensure that all the vulnerable and needy sections of the society get its benefit.

The  Act provides that  the  State  Government shall,  within the  ceiling of  beneficiat:ies determined for the State, identify  the households to be covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yoj ana to the extent specified by the Central Government, in accordance with the guidelines applicable to the said scheme and the remaining households as priority  households to be covered under the Targeted Public  Distribution  System, in accordance  with  such guidelines evolved by the State Government itself

The States/UTs have identified  only  79.40 crore persons, against the intended coverage of 81.35 crore persons. Still,  there is a scope for identification  of  1  .95 crore more beneficiaries, by the States/UTs, under the NFS A

Under the Act, free of cost foodgrains are being distributed to eligible beneficiaries as per their entitlement. The term 'foodgrains'  is defined as rice, wheat or coarse grains or any combination thereof conforming to such quality norms as may be determined, by order, by the Central Government from time to time. Therefore, the millets  are already part of PDS. At  present,  no proposal to include more commodities under the Act, is under consideration of the Government.

To improve the level of nutrition,  an advisory has been issued to all the States/UTs to procure millets and distribute them to beneficiaries as per local consumption preferences and as per guidelines issued by the Central Government from time to time.

(d) : The nationwide portability  of ration cards is popularly known as One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) feature. Through this technology driven reform, PN4GKAY beneficiaries are empowered to lift  their entitled foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of their choice, anywhere in the country, by using their same existing ration card with biometric authentication on an electronic Point of  Sale (ePoS) device. The family  back home can also lift  the part of the PMGKAY foodgrains  in the home State/UT on the same ration card. Currently, ONORC feature is enabled in all  36 States/UTs, across the country, covering almost 100% PMGKAY  beneficiaries (including  migrant workers).

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