Lok Sabha Question No. 5314 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Distribution and Monitoring of Pulses, Sugar and Salt under NFSA in Assam
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Gaurav Gogoi

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5314

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25Tll MARCH, 2026

## DISTRIBUTION AND MONITORING OF PULSES, SUGAR AND SALT UNDER NFSA IN ASSAM

## 5314.  SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

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

- (a) : whether pulses, sugar and salt are being distributed in addition to foodgrains under the National Food Security Act, 2013 in Assam and if so, the details of the quantity allocated and actually distributed during the last five years;
- (b): the details of the number of beneficiaries covered under such additional commodities, category-wise (PHH/AAY);
- (c) : whether the distribution  is regular across all districts of the said State and if  so, the details thereof; and
- (d): the details of the mechanism put in place for procurement, quality testing, storage, transportation and end-to-end monitoring  of these commodities to ensure timely  supply and prevent diversion  under the Public  Distribution System in Assam?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): Under the National Food Security Act,  2013 (NFS A),  free of cost foodgrains are distributed to eligible  beneficiaries as per their  entitlement. Under the Act,  thQ 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. There is no provision under the Act for distribution of pulses, sugar and salt.

However, as per the decision of the State Government of Assam,  subsidized Masur Dal, Sugar and Salt are being distributed to NFS A beneficiaries  under State Sponsored Scheme w.e.f. November 2025. The details of  Quantity of these commodities allocated and distributed since November 2025 is at Annexure I.

- (b): Each ration cardholder is entitled to  receive 1 kilogram  of  these food items, irrespective of scheme type - AAY  or PHH, as per the criteria decided by the State Government. It is the prerogative of the RC Holders to purchase all the 3 commodities or any individual  commodity  as per their choice. The month-wise details of  Ration Cards (Families) covered for  availing the  three additional commodities  are at Annexure ll
- (c): All  the 35 districts in  Assam are getting allocation of  subsidized Masur Dal, Sugar and Salt since the scheme was implemented in November 2025, and distribution  is being carried out regularly every month in all the districts of the State.
- (d): State Government of  Assam has selected National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.  (NAFED) as agency for supply  and delivery  of subsidized Masur Dal, Sugar and Salt. The agency is responsible for  milling,  packaging, handling, transportation, delivery  and quality  check of  these food  items.  Random sample checks on the stock supplied by NAFED  for quality assurance in the designated Assam State Warehousing  Corporation (ASWC) godowns is conducted by district Area Officers  of Food, Public Distribution & Consumer Affairs. If any item is found substandard or unfit for consumption as per standards laid down by FSS AI, the same is withheld  from  distribution. Similar  checks are also done with  regards to compliance  to proper safety standards of storage by  ASWC.

The commodities are distributed to beneficiaries from the  lst to the 10th day of every month during 'Anna Sewa Din'  along with PMGKAY  Rice. Separate biometric authentication is carried out against transaction of each commodity by RC Holders. The RC Holders are handed ePOS generated printed  receipts against each transaction by the FPS Dealers.

District Area Officers of Food, Public Distribution  and Consumer  Affairs  ensure distribution of the three commodities to the authenticated  beneficiaries through ePoS devices only, so that there is no pilferage/diversion  of  commodities. Strict action (such as Suspension/Cancellation  of  license etc.) are taken against  any defaulting FPS .

SeSeSq  SetSe

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN  PART (a) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5314 DUE  FOR  ANSWER  ON  25.03.2026 REGARDING 'DISTRIBUTION AND MONITORING OF PULSES, SUGAR AND SALT UNDER NFSA IN ASSAM'.

Statement showing Quantity  of  Masur  Dal,  Sugar and  Salt  allocated and distributed since November 2025.

|      |               | Masur Dal         | Masur Dal              | Sugar                 | Sugar                 | Salt                   | Salt             |
|------|---------------|-------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|------------------------|------------------|
| "'   | "'"'"~'''     | ''..,'' n (inQtl) | ,=::.':=.i 1 (i'o:>tI) | ''..,'' 1 n I (inQtl) | '::J.':=,. (i 'o:>tI) | ''..,':. I n (in Q tI) | D==:=.i (i'0 bd) |
| 1    | November 2025 | 69, 1 68.46       | 61,884.51              | 69, 1 14.05           | 61 ,760.78            | 67,394.70              | 60,361.49        |
| 2    | December 2025 | 64,433.34         | 62,700.93              | 64,435.68             | 62,492.58             | 63,540.16              | 61 ,702.26       |
| /1 J | January 2026  | 69,460.23         | 66,930.74              | 69,460.29             | 66,765.96             | 69,460.70              | 66,335.27        |
| 4    | February 2026 | 67,468.97         | 66, 122.93             | 67,306.28             | 66, 130.24            | 66,969.57              | 65,330.82        |
| 5    | March 2026    | 70,712.50         | 67,096.56              | 70,712.50             | 67,280.64             | 70,712.50              | 66,591.86        |

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN  PART (b) OF THE  LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO. 5314 DUE FOR  ANSWER  ON  25.03.2026 REGARDING 'DISTRIBUTION AND  MONITORING  OF  PULSES,  SUGAR AND  SALT  UNDER NFSA IN ASSAM'.

Statement showing month-wise details of  Ration Cards (Families) covered for availing the Masur Dal, Sugar and Salt.

|        |                             | Total Ration Cards (Families) getting Allocation   | Total Ration Cards (Families) getting Allocation   | Total Ration Cards (Families) getting Allocation   |
|--------|-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| i : 1B | ][V1[ 0 n t h / IIIIr e a r | Masur Dal                                          | Sugar                                              | Salt                                               |
| 1      | November 2025               | 69,16,846                                          | 69, 11,405                                         | 67,39,470                                          |
| 2      | December 2025               | 64,43,334                                          | 64,43,568                                          | 63,54,016                                          |
| 3      | January 2026                | 69,46,023                                          | 69,46,029                                          | 69,46,070                                          |
| 4      | February 2026               | 67,46,897                                          | 67,30,628                                          | 66,96,957                                          |
| 5      | March 2026                  | 70,71 ,250                                         | 70,71,250                                          | 70,71 ,250                                         |