Lok Sabha Question No. 5513 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Cereals  Distribution in PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Sagar Eshwar Khandre

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5513

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25T ll MARCH, 2026

## CEREALS DISTRIBUTION IN PDS

## 5513. SHRI SAGAR ESHWAR KHANDRE:

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

- (a): whether the Government has assessed that the existing Public Distribution  System largely focuses on  distribution of  cereals and does not adequately address nutritional requirements such as protein and micronutrient intake;
- (b): if  so, whether concerns have been raised regarding rising  malnutrition  and diet-related diseases despite food security interventions and if  so, the details thereof;
- (c): whether any proposal exists to diversify  the PDS basket to include pulses, millets  and other nutritious  foods; and
- (d) : the steps taken by the Government to transition from a calorie-based food security approach to a nutrition-sensitive Public Distribution System?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a) to (d): Public Distribution  System  (PDS) is now governed as per the provisions of the National Food Security Act,  2013. Under the Act,  free of  cost foodgrains are distributed to  eligible beneficiaries identified  by the State Government. 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. At present, no proposal to include more items of cereals under the Act is under consideration of the Government.

In  order to  improve  level of  nutrition  among the beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013, all the States/UTs have also been advised to procure millets  and distribute for  NFS A  beneficiaries as per  local  consumption preference and as per the  guidelines of  the Government of India.

To address the micronutrient deficiencies, particularly anemia, the Government of India is supplying fortified rice through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and in Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) in all States and UTs. The initiative  aims to provide fortified  rice enriched with  essential micronutrients  such as iron,  folic  acid, and vitamin  B12.

Nutrition  goes beyond mere eating of  food; it  requires proper digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients. This process is influenced by factors like  sanitation, education and access to safe drinking water. As malnutrition  requires a multi-sectoral  approach involving  dimensions of food,  health, water, sanitation and  education, it  is  crucial  to  effectively  address the  issue of malnutrition  in a convergent manner. It  is being addressed under Mission  Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 by establishing cross cutting convergence amongst 18 Ministries/Departments.

To address the  challenges of  malnutrition, Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent girls (of 14-18 years in Aspirational Districts and North-Eastern region) have been subsumed under the umbrella Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0). It  is a Centrally Sponsored mission, where the responsibility for  implementation of various activities lies with  the States and UTs.  The Mission  is being implemented in all  States and UTs  in the country.

Under this Mission,  Supplementary  Nutrition  is provided to Children (6 months to 6 years), Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers and Adolescent Girls  in accordance  with  the nutrition  norms contained in Schedule-II of the National  Food Security Act, 2013. These norms have been revised in January 2023. The old norms were largely  calorie-specific;  however, the  revised norms are more comprehensive and balanced in terms of both quantity and quality of supplementary  nutrition based on the principles of diet diversity that provides for quality protein, healthy fats and micronutrients (Calcium, Zinc, Iron, Dietary Folate, Vitamin A, Vitamin-B6 and Vitamin B-12). Extra Supplementary Nutrition  is provided to  Severely Acutely  Malnourished (SAM)  children as per National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).

Ministry vide notification dated 12th September  2022 issued Integrated Nutrition Support Programme- Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan (2.0), Rules 2022 to regulate  the entitlements specified under the provisions of National  Food Security Act,  2013 for every pregnant woman and lactating mother, till  six months after childbirth  and every child  in the age group of six months to six years.

To encourage diet-diversity  and consumption of  wholesome local produce, Poshan Vatikas have been developed at Anganwadi  Centres (AWCs). Poshan Vatikas  help to  meet the important dietary diversity  gap that  has been repeatedly revealed in different  surveys by providing  different fruits, nuts, herbs, medicinal plants and vegetables round the year. The main objective of introducing the concept of Poshan Vatika is to encourage community members to cultivate local food crops in their backyards.

Under this Mission, one of the major activities undertaken is Community Mobilization and Awareness Advocacy to educate people on nutritional aspects as adoption of good nutrition habit requires sustained efforts  for behavioral  change. State and UTs  are conducting  and reporting  regular sensitization activities  under Jan Andolans  during  Poshan Maah and Poshan Pakhwada celebrated in the months of  September and March-April  respectively. Community Based Events (CBEs) have served as a significant  strategy in changing  nutritional  practices and all  Anganwadi  workers (AWWs) are required to conduct two Community Based Events every month. A total of  9.8 crore CBEs have been conducted from  2018 to  February 2026 and more than 150 crore Jan Andolan activities have been conducted since 2018  through  15 Jan Andolans.

The 'Poshan Tracker'  application  was rolled out as an important  governance tool. The Poshan Tracker facilitates monitoring  and tracking  of  all  AWCs,  AWWs  and beneficiaries on defined indicators. Technology under Poshan Tracker is being leveraged for  dynamic identification  of stunting, wasting, underweight prevalence among children. It  has facilitated near real time data collection  for Anganwadi Services such as, opening of  AWCs,  daily  attendance of children, ECCE

activities, Growth Monitoring  of children, Provision of Hot Cooked Meal (HCM)/Take  Home Ration (THR-not raw ration), Growth Measurement etc. The Poshan Tracker application is available here : https://www .poshantracker .in

For last mile  tracking of  Service Delivery,  Ministry  of  Women and Child  Development (MWCD)  has developed Facial Recognition System (FRS)  in  Poshan Tracker Application  for distribution of Take-Home Ration to ensure that benefit is given only to the intended beneficiary registered  in Poshan Tracker.

The Nominee Module has been introduced in Poshan Tracker to ensure uninterrupted delivery of  Take-Home Ration  (THR)  to  the  beneficiaries; Pregnant Women, Lactating  Mothers, and Adolescent Girls.  If  due to  any reason,  the registered beneficiary  is unable to  visit  the Anganwadi Centre to receive their THR  through FRS, she can nominate a nominee on her behalf to receive her THR