Sambhav-2025

Approach In the introduction, briefly explain PDS, its role in ensuring food security Discuss the significance, challenges and reform for the PDS. Conclude suitably.

Introduction

The Public Distribution System (PDS) plays a crucial role in ensuring food security for two-thirds of India's population under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. However, despite its importance, 28% of allocated food never reaches beneficiaries, leading to massive losses and inefficiencies. Addressing these challenges requires structural reforms to enhance transparency, efficiency, and nutritional security.

Body

Significance of PDS in India:

• Food Security & Poverty Alleviation: Supports 129 million Indians living in extreme poverty by providing subsidized food.
• Price Stabilization & Market Regulation: Helps control inflation, as seen in 2022-23 when FCI released 34.82 lakh tonnes of wheat to stabilize market prices.
• Support to Farmers: Provides assured markets and MSP; in 2023-24, 52.54 million tonnes of rice were procured.
• Nutritional Security & Health: Some states (e.g., Tamil Nadu with fortified rice) have expanded PDS to include pulses and oils.

Challenges Facing PDS:

• Leakages and Diversion:
  • 28% of allocated food grains are lost due to illegal market diversion despite PoS machine usage in 90% of Fair Price Shops (FPSs).
  • States like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Gujarat report the highest leakages.
• Ghost Beneficiaries and Identity Fraud:
  • 47 million bogus ration cards canceled (2013-2021) despite Aadhaar integration.
  • Odisha alone had 2 lakh ghost beneficiaries (RTI, 2021).
• Quality Degradation and Storage Losses:
  • 74 million tonnes of food are lost annually, 10% of India's total food production, due to poor storage.
• Targeting Errors and Exclusion-Inclusion Issues:
  • 12.9% of Indians live in extreme poverty, but PDS covers about 57% of the population under PMGKAY, leading to under-coverage of the needy.
• Corruption in Fair Price Shops:
  • Irregularities in FPSs include under-weighing, overcharging, and fraud, with 19,410 actions taken between 2018-2020 under TPDS (Control) Order, 2015.
• Rising Fiscal Burden:
  • The food subsidy bill for 2024-25 is ₹2,05,250 crore, 7% higher than the previous year, affecting government finances.
• Nutritional Inadequacy:
  • PDS primarily provides wheat and rice, neglecting protein-rich foods.
  • Odisha's Millet Mission (OMM) has successfully integrated nutrient-rich millets into PDS, serving as a model.

Reforms for a More Effective PDS:

• End-to-End Digitalization & Real-Time Monitoring:
  • Implement blockchain tracking and IoT sensors to monitor food grain movement, ensuring transparency and reducing leakages.
  • Use GPS-enabled transport tracking for government food supply vehicles to prevent unauthorized diversions.
  • Mandate AI-based fraud detection systems at storage and distribution points to curb corruption and pilferage.
• Smart FPS (Fair Price Shop) Transformation:
  • Upgrade FPSs with biometric authentication, digital weighing scales, and electronic PoS machines to prevent fraud and ensure fair distribution.
  • Enable UPI and Aadhaar-linked payments for cashless transactions and enhanced transparency.
  • Introduce QR code-based food quality certification to help consumers verify authenticity through mobile apps.
• Strengthening One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC):
  • Ensure seamless ration portability for migrant workers across states, preventing food insecurity.
  • Develop a centralized real-time beneficiary database to eliminate duplication and fraud.
  • Implement temporary ration registration for seasonal migrants to maintain uninterrupted access to subsidized food.
• Storage Infrastructure Modernization:
  • Upgrade traditional godowns to temperature-controlled silos to reduce wastage and improve food grain quality.
  • Establish AI-driven grain quality monitoring to detect spoilage, pests, and contamination early.
  • Encourage public-private partnerships (PPPs) to develop modern storage infrastructure and improve supply chain efficiency.
• Expanding Nutritional Security & Diversification:
  • Expand PDS to include pulses, fortified rice, edible oils, and millets to address malnutrition and hidden hunger.
  • Implement E-Rupee-based food vouchers for vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children to ensure targeted nutrition.
  • Promote state-led initiatives like Odisha’s Millet Mission to enhance dietary diversity in PDS.
• Enhancing Crisis Response & Emergency Distribution:
  • Deploy mobile PDS units with digital ration distribution to serve disaster-affected areas.
  • Establish emergency food stockpiles in disaster-prone regions for rapid response.
  • Introduce flexible ration quotas to increase allocations during crises like droughts or pandemics.

Conclusion

The Public Distribution System (PDS) plays a crucial role in ensuring food security, but addressing leakages, inefficiencies, and nutritional gaps is essential for its long-term effectiveness. Leveraging digital technologies, modernizing storage, diversifying food baskets, and strengthening governance will help create a transparent, efficient, and inclusive food security system for India.