Consider the following statements about the Public Distribution System :

1. The Public Distribution System is operated under the joint responsibility of Centre and State / Union Territories.

2. Food Corporation of India has assumed the responsibility for procurement, storage and transportation of food grains to the State Governments.

3. Both Centre and State have the joint responsibility to identify eligible beneficiaries.

4. Some States also distribute additional items of mass consumption through the PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oil, etc.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

CDS General Knowledge 3 Sep 2023 Official Paper

Answer 1

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 4.

Key Points

The Public Distribution System (PDS) is an Indian food security system established under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
PDS evolved as a system of managing shortages through the distribution of food grains at affordable prices.
PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and State Governments. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
The Central Government has taken over the responsibility of procurement, storage, transportation and bulk allocation of food grains to the State Governments through the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Hence, statement 2 is correct.
The operational responsibilities, including allocation within the state, identification of eligible households, issuance of ration cards, and monitoring the functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPS), primarily rest with the State Governments. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
- The responsibility for the identification of beneficiaries primarily lies with the State governments.
- They identify eligible families and issue ration cards to them.
Some States also distribute additional items of mass consumption through the PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oil, etc. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Additional Information

The Public Distribution System (PDS) is an Indian food security system established under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
- In September 2013, Parliament enacted the National Food Security Act, 2013.
- The Act relies heavily on the existing TPDS to deliver food grains as a legal entitlement to poor households.