Lok Sabha Question No. 4188 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Modernization of Food Distribution, Storage and Logistics System
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Naranbhai Chudasama

## MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4188

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18Tll MARCH, 2026

## MODERNIZATION  OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION,  STORAGE AND LOGISTICS SYSTEM

## 4188. SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI  CHUDASAMA:

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

- (a): the details of the steps taken by the Ministry  to modernize food distribution, storage and logistics systems;
- (b): whether the Ministry has taken measures to strengthen procurement systems and ensure timely  MSP payments to farmers;
- (c): if  so, the details thereof; and
- (d): the details of steps planned to increase and improve food grain storage so that grains are not wasted and reach all eligible households properly?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): Department of Food and Public Distribution has taken following  initiatives to modernize Public Distribution System Operations:  -

SMART-PDS:  The Department of Food and Public Distribution  is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) 'Scheme for  Modernization and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution  System (SMART-PDS)' for development of an advanced, integrated and modular digital  platform  to strengthen end-to-end management of the Public  Distribution  System (PDS), including ration card management, supply chain operations, allocation, procurement  and biometric distribution.

The SMART-PDS application is being developed by  the National Informatics Centre (NIC).  The development of the platform  commenced in October 2024, and the modules are being rolled  out  in  phases from  April  2025 onwards  across States/UTs.

Smart  Warehouse  Project  : The  Government is converting  its  150 FCI  owned Depots to  smart warehouses on pilot  basis. CWC has installed  smart warehouse at all its foodgrain  warehouses. Under this project, traditional depots are being converted in smart warehouses which are equipped with different IoT sensors like  smoke sensors, fire sensors & gate opening sensor etc. for monitoring key parameters such  as C02, 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.

Depot Darpan  Portal:  Depot Darpan Portal is a digital platform launched  by DFPD to enhance the monitoring, transparency and efficiency  of food-grain storage depots &  warehouses under PDS . Key features and purpose 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.

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 only  one-third of  the land  area compared to  conventional storage methods, lowers transit and overhead costs such as those associated with  gunny bags, reduces manpower requirements, and ensures consistent quality through scientific handling and storage  practices. 32 LMT  of  Silos are currently functional.

Anna Chakra"  Route optimization  tool:- DFPD has launched the optimisation tool 'Anna Chakra for Public  Distribution  Supply (PDS) Chain on 05.12.2024. This tool  makes food safety nets more efficient, contributing to  reduced carbon emissions, savings, and efficiency in  reaching the beneficiaries of  a scheme that serves 81 crore vulnerable people.

PDS Supply Chain Optimisation  programme started in March  2023 and covers the routes transporting 680 LIV[T of food annually through PDS.

Under this  exercise, mapping  of  FCI  warehouses to  State warehouses (Ll level  transport), state warehouse to FPS shops (L2 level transport), based on optimized results is done.

CCTV  and IoT  technologies:- Modern CCTV cameras are being installed in all  FCI owned and CWC depots.

These technologies transform depot operations by ensuring:-

1. Real-time visibility
11. Timely intervention
3. 111 Data-driven decision-making
- IV. Standardized  operations across all depots
5. (b)  &  (c): The steps taken by the  Government to ensure timely  procurement and full  payment to farmers are as under:
6. (i)  FCI, the nodal central agency of Government of India, along with other State Agencies undertakes procurement of wheat and paddy under Minimum Support Price (MSP) operation. Coarse grains/millets  in central pool are procured by State Government Agencies only  under decentralized procurernent system.
7. (ii)  FCI and various State Agencies in  consultation with  the State Government establish a large number of purchase centers at various man(iis 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. Such extensive & effective price support operations have resulted in sustaining the income of  farmers over a period and in  providing the required impetus for higher investment in agriculture  sector for  improved  productivity.
8. (iii)  Stocks conforming to the Government of India specifications which are offered by the farmers at purchase centers are procured by the Government  Agencies at MSP. If the farmers get prices better than the support price in open market, they are free to  sell their produce. Presence of Government Agencies ensures prevention  of distress sale of food  grains by the farmers.
9. (iv)  Procurement offoodgrains under MSP  operations is mandatorily  being carried  out through  State Procurement Portals which has brought in substantial transparency in the process with introduction of  registration of  farmers  for  sale  of  their  produce  at  govt.  p'rocuring  centers/man(iis,  land/crop verification  and online payment of MSP directly into the farmer's bank account.
10. (v)  'One Nation, One -MSP through DBT'  implemented across the country from  RMS 2021-22 onwards. Payment of MSP has been ensured directly into farmers'  account.  DBT  of MSP has brought in responsibility, transparency & real time monitoring in the system.
11. (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) by the State procuring agencies so that maximum farmers, can avail the benefit of price support operations.
12. (d): All  the initiatives  mentioned at point (a) above, are found very helpful  to improve food grain storage under PDS.

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