Lok Sabha Question No. 896 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-04
Subject: Problem of Under Weighing
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Devesh Shakya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 896

TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH FEBRUARY, 2026

## PROBLEM OF UNDER WEIGHING

## t896.  SHRI DEVESH SHAKYA:

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

- (a): whether the Fair Price Shopkeepers (Kotdars) working  in  Etah and Kasganj districts of Uttar  Pradesh are facing a serious problem of under weighing (Ghatti) due to lack of proper arrangement for weighing electronic forks/sacks;
- (b): whether it  is a fact that the remaining foodgrains after the district-wise allocation of thousands of quintals of foodgrains are falling prey to unfair distribution, irregular storage or black marketing due to lack of proper monitoring and if  so, the details of such cases in Etah and Kasganj during the last three years, district-wise;
- (c): whether the Government has put in  place any special guidelines or  scheme to ensure standardized electronic  weighing  machines, standard weight  of  sacks and compensation for under weighing to the Kotdars; and
- (d): if  so, the the details thereoF

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIM ATI  NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIYA)

(a): Foodgrains are supplied to all  Fair Price Shops only  after being weighed through electronic weighbridges installed at the  depots of  the Food Corporation of  India (FCI)  and the State Warehousing Corporation  (SWC),  in  strict  compliance with  the  guidelines prescribed under the Single Stage Door  Step Delivery  System.

Foodgrains are weighed as per the approved indent and Release Order. After due weighment and verification,  an acknowledgment is provided  by the concerned State Government Food Inspector, certifying  that  the  full and correct quantity of  foodgrains has been received. Subsequently, foodgrains are issued to Fair Price Shopkeepers strictly  as per their allotted quota.

(b): No  such incidents of  unfair distribution,  irregular storage,  or black marketing offoodgrains

- have been reported from the districts of Etah and Kasganj during the last three years.

The allocation and distribution  of  foodgrains in  these districts are carried out  under a digitally monitored and controlled system, and the details of allocation and distribution are maintained by the State Government.

- (c) and (d): To ensure accurate and transparent  distribution  of  foodgrains, weighing scales at Fair Price  Shops have been integrated with  electronic  Point  of  Sale (ePoS) devices. This  integration

ensures that no distribution  of foodgrains below the entitled quantity can take place.

In the State  of Uttar Pradesh, all 73,138  Fair Price Shops  have  their weighing scales integrated with  ePoS devices. The system allows the ration slip to be generated only  after the full entitled quantity of  foodgrains is placed on the weighing  scale, thereby eliminating  the possibility of under-weighing. This technology-driven mechanism ensures standardized weighing and protects the interests  of both beneficiaries and Fair Price Shopkeepers.

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