Lok Sabha Question No. 371 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Survey to Evaluate Impact of PMGKAY and NFSA
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Dharmendra Yadav

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

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 371 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18TH MARCH, 2026

## SURVEY TO EVALUATE  IMPACT  OF PMGKAY AND NFSA

## t*371. SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

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

- (a): whether any data-based survey has been conducted recently to evaluate the impact of  the Pradhan Mantri  Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)  and National Food Security Act (NFS A) in  ensuring food  security among OBC,  Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe  families  in  Uttar Pradesh and if so, the details thereof;
- (b): whether the Government maintains any data regarding the improvement in nutrition  levels and awareness in regard to right to food among these underprivileged sections, district-wise;
- (c): the details of special steps being taken by the Government to ensure accessibility to Fair Price Shops (FPS) in  areas dominated by the  said communities and the  success  of  the  'one Nation One Ration Card' (ONORC) therein;
- (d): whether any new technical monitoring  system has been implemented to  ensure timely distribution  and transparent  stock management; and
- (e): if  so, the details thereon

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION AND MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a) to (e):

A statement is laid on the Table of the House

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a) TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 371* (11th POSITION) FOR ANSWER ON 18th MARCH,  2026 REGARDING 'SURVEY TO EVALUATE IMPACT OF PMGKAY AND NFSA'

- (a): The  Department of  Food  and Public Distribution  engaged several reputed Monitoring Institutions (MIs)  for conducting concurrent evaluation of the National  Food Security Act (NFS A), 2013 implementation on a state-wise basis during Phase-1 (2018-20) and Phase-I1 (2020-23). This aimed  to  strengthen monitoring and  provide  in-depth,  incisive  and  comprehensive empirical evidence on  a regular basis. Currently, the Department has engaged an agency for  concurrent evaluation of  the Pradhan Mlantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)  under NFS A,  2013, covering the periods 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28. However, no community-wise survey (i.e., disaggregated specifically  by  Other  Backward  Classes ( C)BC), Scheduled Caste (SC)  and Scheduled Tribe  (ST) families)  has been conducted  for  foodgrain distribution  under PMGKAY in any  state,  including Uttar Pradesh,
- (b): The Department does not maintain district-wise data on improvements in nutrition  levels or awareness regarding the right to food specifically among OBC, SC and ST sections. As no community-wise  or district-wise  surveys/evaluations  have been undertaken targeting these groups under PMGKAY/ NFS A  assessments and such disaggregated data is not available/maintained.
- (c): As  per  sub-clause (6)  of  Clause 9 of  the Targeted Public  Distribution  System (Control) Order, 2015, the State Government shall ensure that the number of ration card holders attached to a fair  price  shop are reasonable,  the fair  price  shop is  so located that  the consumer or ration card holder does not  have to  face difficulty to  reach the  fair  price  shop and that  proper coverage is ensured in hilly, desert, tribal  and such other areas difficult to access. The  Department does not take special steps specifically targeted at areas dominated by OBC, SC and ST communities  for Fair Price Shop (FPS).

The 'One Nation  One Ration  Card' (ONORC)  scheme has been fully  implemented across all  36  States/UTs, enabling nationwide portability  of  ration  entitlements under NFS A  and PMGKAY.  Beneficiaries, including  those from  vulnerable communities (many  of  whom  are migrants from  OBC/SC/ST Sections), can access free foodgrains from  any FPS in the country via Aadhaar-based biometric authentication on ePoS devices.

- (d) and (e):  The Department has implemented technology-enabled monitoring mechanisms  under the Smart Public  Distribution System (Smart-PDS) to  improve transparency, efficiency  and realtime monitoring of foodgrain distribution under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and the National Food Security Act.  These systems provide end-to-end digital  oversight of beneficiary authentication, stock movement, allocation and distribution  of  foodgrains through Fair Price Shops (FPSs).

## Smart-PDS Functional Modules

## Ration Card, FPS & Grievance Management Module:

This module manages the lifecycle of ration cards including issuance, modification and deletion of beneficiaries. It  also supports management of  Fair Price Shops and provides an online platform for registration and monitoring  of grievances related to PDS services.

## Supply Chain Management & Allocation Module:

This module tracks movement offoodgrains  from procurement centres to warehouses, state depots and further to Fair Price Shops, enabling real-time monitoring  of  stock movement and allocation to ensure timely availability and minimise diversion.

## Distribution  (e-POS Based) Module:

This module enables distribution of  foodgrains at Fair Price Shops through electronic Point-ofSale (e-POS) devices. Beneficiary  authentication and digital  recording of  transactions ensure transparency and real-time monitoring  of distribution.

## Procurement Module:

This module manages procurement of foodgrains from farmers and procurement agencies through digital  recording of  procurement transactions and stock availability,  improving  transparency  and efficiency in procurement operations.

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