Lok Sabha Question No. 4180 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Foodgrain Assistance, PDS Coverage and State-Specific Provision
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri P C Mohan

## MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4180

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18Tll MARCH, 2026

## FOODGRAIN ASSISTANCE, PDS COVERAGE AND STATE-SPECIFIC PROVISION

## 4180. SHRI PC MOHAN:

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

- (a): the total  number of beneficiaries  receiving  foodgrain  assistance under the National  Food Security Act  and other Central schemes in  Karnataka and specifically  in  Bengaluru, categorywise;
- (b): the quantity and types of foodgrains presently distributed under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Bengaluru;
- (c): whether the Government proposes to include additional nutritious items such as millets, pulses or other essential grocery items under the PDS in Karnataka and Bengaluru;
- (d): the details of  steps taken by the Government to prevent leakage, diversion  and pilferage  of foodgrains under the PDS through digitisation,  Aadhaar authentication and supply-chain monitoring; and
- (e): whether any State-specific provision  exists or is proposed to distribute  locally  grown crops such as millets  or region-specific foodgrains through the PDS based on local agricultural production  dietary  patterns and if  so, the details thereon

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): The  State Government of  Karnataka has identified  beneficiaries up  to  the  maximum permissible limit  i.e. 401.93 lakh person determined for the State under National  Food Security Act, 2013 (NFS A)  in  Karnataka. The number of  beneficiaries  identified  by the  State Government in Bengaluru District  of Karnataka are as follows:

| District         | AAY    | PHU       | Total     |
|------------------|--------|-----------|-----------|
| Bengaluru Rural  | 59,800 | 7,09,284  | 7,69,084  |
| Berigaluru Urban | 48.754 | 13,85,479 | 14.34.233 |

(b) &  (c): Under the Act,  free of cost foodgrains are being distributed to eligible  beneficiaries. 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. Millets, which are commonly known as Nutri-Cereals, are already a part of Public Distribution System (PDS). At  present, no proposal to  include more commodities under the  Act  is  under consideration of the Government.

- (d) : The efforts made by Government for modernization of Public Distribution  System  to prevent leakage, diversion and pilferage offoodgrains  in all States/UTs (including  Karnataka) are as follows:
- (i) Ration cards/beneficiary's  database have been completely digitized (100%) in all States/UTs. 99.7Q/, of ration cards have been Aadhar seeded.

(ii)  The transparency portal  and online  grievance redressal facility/Toll-free  number have been implemented  in  all  States/UTs.

- (iii)  Online allocation has been implemented in  all  States/UTs and supply chain has been computerized in 3 1 States/UTs (except UTs of Chandigarh, Puducherry and Urban area ofDadra  & Nagar Haven which  have adopted DBT  Cash Transfer scheme).

(iv)  The nationwide portability  of ration cards, popularly known as One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) has been implemented in  all  36 States/UTs, covering all  Pradhan Mantri  Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)  beneficiaries.

(v) More than 5.50 Lakh (99.8%) out of total 5.51 Lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the country have been automated by  installing  ePoS devices for  the  distribution  of  foodgrains through Aadhaar biometric authentication of beneficiaries.

- (e): To improve the level of nutrition  among the targeted beneficiaries covered under the Act,  all the States/UTs have been advised to procure millets  and distribute to  beneficiaries  as per local consumption preferences and as per guidelines issued by the Central Government from time to time.

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