Lok Sabha Question No. 1688 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Cost-benefit Analysis
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Jugal Kishore, Shri Nalin Soren, Shri Lumbaram Choudhary, Smt. Vijaylakshmi Devi, Smt. Kamlesh Jangde, Shri Dineshbhai Makwana, Shri Radheshyam Rathiya

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1688

TO BE ANSWERED ON IOTFI DECEMBER, 2025

## COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS

+ 1688. SHRI LUMBARAM  CHOUDHARY:

SHRI RADHESHYAM RATHIYA:

SMT. VIJAYLAKSHMI DEVI:

SHRI DINESHBHAI MAKWANA:

SMT. KAMLESH  JANGDE:

SHRI NALIN SOREN:

SHRI JUGAL KISHORE:

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

- (a) whether the Government has conducted a cost-benefit analysis between the Pradhan Mantri (Jarib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) and the pre-pandemic subsidized PDS model particularly regarding Dumka in Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir;
- (b) if  so, the key findings  thereof;
- (c) if  not, whether the Government proposes to get any such study conducting to formulate future food security policies; and
- (d) the number of complaints received regarding irregularities  in food distribution in Bihar and Chhattisgarh despite the adoption of the PDS model along with  the steps taken by the Government to address the said complaints?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

- (a) to  (c): No  such analysis has been conducted by  the Department of  Food and Public Distribution, Government of  India. However, in  order to  strengthen the monitoring of  NFS A implementation and to provide a more in-depth, incisive and comprehensive empirical  evidence on regular basis, the Department of  Food and Public Distribution has engaged an agency for conducting the concurrent evaluation of the implementation of NFS A,  2013 during 2025-26, 202627 and 2027-28

(d): Targeted Public  Distribution  System (TPDS) under National  Food Security Act  (NFS A), 2013 is operated under the joint  responsibility  of  the Central and the  State/ Union  Territory  (UT) Governments. Central Government is responsible for  procurement, allocation and transportation of foodgrains  upto  the  designated  depots  of  the  Food  Corporation of  India  (FCI).  The  operational responsibilities for  allocation of  foodgrains within  the  States/ UTs,  identification of  eligible beneficiaries, issuance of  ration cards to  them, distribution  of  foodgrains to  eligible  beneficiaries under TPDS, issuance of  license to Fair  Price Shop dealers, supervision over and monitoring of functioning  of FPSs etc. rest with  the concerned State/ UT  Governments.

Helpline number 1967/1800-State series number is operational in  all  the States/ UTs for contacting and redressal of  the complaints in  Public Distribution  System and filing  any type of complaints by the intended beneficiaries. As and when complaints are received in this Department from  any source, they are sent to  State/ UT  Governments concerned for  inquiry  and appropriate action. In the year 2024, 1720 complaints relating to 'Bihar'  State and 69 complaints relating to '(:hhattisgarh' State were received in  this  Department. These complaints were sent to  the State Government(s) for inquiry  and appropriate action.

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