Public Distribution System PDS

PDS means distribution of essential commodities to larger section of the society, mostly vulnerable people, through a network of fair Price Shops on a recurring basis. (Issue Price)

There are about 5.5 lakh ration shops/Fair price shops all over the country
There are three kinds of ration cards: (a) Antyodaya cards for the poorest of the poor; (b) BPL cards for those below poverty line; and (c) APL cards for all others

Over the years, PDS has become an important part of Government‘s policy for management of ood economy in the country
PDS is supplemental in nature and is not intended to make available the entire requirement of any of the commodities distributed under to a household or a section of the society
PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State Governments.

Central Government, through Food Corporation of India (FCI), has assumed the responsibility for procurement, storage, transportation and bulk allocation of food grains to the State Governments.
Operational responsibility including allocation within State, identification of eligible families, issue of Ration Cards and supervision of the functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc., rest with the State Governments

Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution.

Some States/UTs also distribute additional items of mass consumption through the PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc

Under National Food Security Act 2013, all India coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population for receiving highly subsidized food grains is provided. Hence coverage under TPDS has been delinked from the poverty estimates.

RPDS- Revamped PDS, TPDS- Targeted PDS, AAY- Antyodaya Anna Yojana, APS - Annapurna Scheme,

Indigent - poor/needy

One Nation, One Ration Card
Beneficiaries can buy subsidized food grains from a ration shop in any part of the country
Under present Public Distribution System (PDS), a ration cardholder can buy food grains only from Fair Price Shop (FPS) that has been assigned in the locality in which he/she lives
A person will only be eligible for the central subsidies
Under this, a migrant will be allowed to buy maximum of 50% of family quota. This is to ensure that the individual, after shifting to another place does not buy the entire family quota in one go
No new ration cards are being made specifically for the 'one nation, one ration card' scheme. Old ration cards will also remain valid throughout the nation.
Partha Mukhopadhyay Working Group on Migration recommended for portability of Public Distribution System and its benefits in 2017

Instances of hunger are prevalent despite overflowing granaries. FCI godowns are overflowing with grains, with some rotting away and some being eaten by rats
PDS dealers are sometimes found resorting to malpractices like diverting the grains to open market to get better margin, selling poor quality grains at ration shops, irregular opening of the shops, etc.