Lok Sabha Question No. 3063 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-11
Subject: Modernisation of Food Procurement, Storage and PDS in Bengaluru
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri P C Mohan

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

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3063

## TO BE ANSWERED ON lITH  MARCH, 2026

## MODERNISATION OF FOOD PROCUREMENT, STORAGE AND PDS IN BENGALURU

## 3063. SHRI PC MOHAN:

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

- (a): the details of the steps taken by the Government to modernise food procurement. storage and logistics systems through digitisation, modern silos and scientific warehousing across the country including Karnataka:
- (b): the  details  of  the  measures undertaken b)- the  Government to  strengthen procurenrent SYstems and ensure timely Minimum  Support Price (MSP) payments to farmers particularly in Karnataka:
- (c-): the  total  number of  Public  Distribution  System (PDS) fair  price  shops operating in Karnataka and specifIcally in Bengaluru along \vith details of foodgrdins and essential commodities presently distributed under the Ndtiondl Food Security Act:
- (d): u-hether the  Government  proposes to  expand  storage capacity  or  introduce  additional foodgrain t, or grocery items under the PDS in Karnataka especially in Bengaluru; and
- (e): if  so. the det,als thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a) &  (b):  The Government has taken following  steps to modernize and strengthen the procurement systems and ensure timely  payment of Minimum  Support Price (MSP) to farmers:
- (i) FCI, the  nodal  central agency  of Government  of India, along  with other  State  Agencies undertakes procurement of wheat and paddy under MSP operations. Coarse grains/millets  in central pool are procured by State Government Agencies only under decentralized procurement system.
- (ii)  FCI  and various  State Agencies  in  consultation with  the  State Government establish a large number of  purchase centers at various mandis and key points. The number of  centers and their

locations are decided by  the  State Governments, based on various parameters, so as to maximize the MSP operations. List of portals being used in the State of Karnataka is at annexure.

- (iii)  Stocks conforming to the Government of India specifications which are offered by the farrrlers at  purchase  centers  are  procured by  the  Government Agencies at  MSP. Presence  of  Governrrt,ent Agencies ensures prevention of distress sale of food grains by the farmers.
- (iv)  Procurement of  foodgrains under  MSP  operations is  carried out  through online Procurerrt,ent Portals of  respective States which  has brought in  substantial transparency in  the process with registration of farmers on the portal, online verification  of land/crop and online payment of  MSP directly into the farmer's bank account,  preferably within  48 hours,
- (v) 'One Nation, One MSP through DBT'  has been implemented across the country which has brought in responsibility, transparency  &  real time monitoring.
- (vi)  in  order to widen the reach of MSP operations for food grains, Government of India has made a  provision  for  engagement of  Co-operative  societies/ Self  Help  Groups/  Panchayats/ Primary Agriculture  Credit  Societies (PACS)/Farmers  Producer Organisations (FPOs) also by the  State procuring agencies so that maximum farmers can avail the benefit of price support  operations.

The  Government has taken  following initiatives  to  modernise foodgrain  storage and logistics systems: -

- (i)  Smart  Warehouse  Project :  The  Government has envisaged conversion  of  its  150 owned Depots, on pilot  basis to  smart warehouses which  are equipped with  different  sensors like  smoke sensors, fire  sensors & gate opening  sensor etc.  for  monitoring  key  parameters such  as CI)2, phosphine  levels, fire  hazards, humidity,  unauthorized  entry and temperature on real time basis.

This  initiative is  to  ensure real-time  visibility, timely  intervention,  data-driven decisionmaking  &  standardized operations across all  depots contributing to  ensure safe, secure, and efficient food grain storage  and distribution.

- (ii)  Depot  Darpan Portal: Depot  Darpan  Portal  is a digital platform launched  by  Govt.  to  enhance the monitoring,  transparency and efficiency  of food-grain  storage depots &  warehouses under PDS.

## Key features of Depot Darpan:

- a. Depot/warehouse managers  upload geo-tagged data regarding infrastructure, operations, and financial performance of the depot.
- b. Portal uses  a  composite scoring system, assessing  depots  on  two broad categories: infrastructure (safety,  storage conditions, technology use, compliance) and operational parameters (stock turnover,  losses, space utilisation,  manpower  costs etc.).
- c. Based on the scores, each depot receives a star rating, which  is meant to  provide  a quick assessment of depot performance.
- d.  Validation of  data is built  into the process  via  100% supervisory officer verification and some random third-party audits to ensure reliability.
- e.  All  the FCI's owned and hired warehouses are covered under Depot Darpan portal.
6. (iii) Silos-Scientific Storage  of  Foodgrains: Silo  storage represents a  highly  mechanized .and modern method of bulk  foodgrains storage, ensuring superior preservation and enhanced shelf life. It  requires less land area, lowers transit and overhead costs, reduces manpower requirements and ensures consistent quality  through  scientific .handling and storage practices. Under this  initiative, steel silos with  a capacity of 33.75 LMT  are already operational.

## (iv) Anna Chakra" Inter-state Route optimization tool:-

Inter-state movement optimization has been undertaken to  streamline and enhance the interstate movement operations of foodgrains, primarily  by rail, undertaken by the Food Corporation of India (FCI)

- (v)  CCTV  and advance technologies:-  This technologies transform depot operations by ensuring real-time visibility, timely  intervention, data-driven decision-making and standardized operations across all depots.
- (c): Presently, there are 20,509 Fair  Price Shops in the State of  Karnataka, out of  which  1,773 are operating in Bengaluru.

Rice, ragi and jowar  are distributed under Public Distribution  System  (PDS).

- (d)  &  (e):  The requirement of  Storage capacity i.e. construction of  new warehouses/silos  depends upon the level of procurement, requirement of buffer  norms and PDS operations. The Government continuously assesses and monitors the storage  gap. Based on the assessment, storage  capacities  are created/hired across country  including  Karnataka through  FC:I/Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) under following  schemes: -
1. Private Entrepreneurs  Guarantee (PEG) Scheme
11. Construction of  Silos under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode
- Iii. Hiring  of godown from  Central warehousing Corporation (CWC)/State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs)/State Agencies
- IV. Hiring  of godown through Private Warehousing Scheme (PWS).
- V. Creation ofgodowns  on FC:1's owned land under Asset Monetization

No proposal to include more commodities under the NFS A is under consideration of the Govt.

ScR$( ScScSe

## List of State and Central digital  portals  used for the  procurement  of  Ragi, Paddy and Jowar'

| S.No            | Portal Name                                                            | Purpose                                                                                                     |
|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| State Portals   | State Portals                                                          | State Portals                                                                                               |
| 1               | r Management System-State Procurement Portal                           | Procurement-Farmer I registration, Grading, Procurement, I Movement of stock, inventory and farmer payments |
| 2               | FRUITS- Farmer Registration and Unified beneficiary Information System | To fetch farmer land and crop details for MSP farmer registration                                           |
| 3               | Karnataka State DBTPortal                                              | To transfer farmer payments through DBT for procurement under MSP                                           |
| Central Portals | Central Portals                                                        | Central Portals                                                                                             |
| 1               | c Portal                                                               | procurement and I Paymentsare sent to CFPP                                                                  |
| 2               | CFSc                                                                   | ietails are sent to CFSP                                                                                    |
| 3               | PCSAP- Procurement Center Self- AssessmentPortal                       | Procurement centers operation under MSP schemes are assessed in PCSAPportal                                 |
| 4               | PFMS-PublicFinancialManagement System                                  | FarmerPayment data (MIS) is synced with PFMS after payment from State DBTportal                             |