Contents

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution ........................................................................................ 1

1 Pilot scheme on fortification of Rice and its Distribution under PDS ................................................................... 1
2 National Laboratory Directory .............................................................................................................................. 1
3 Integrated Management of Public Distribution System ....................................................................................... 2
Ministry of Culture........................................................................................................................................................ 2
4 Digital Bharat, Digital Sanskriti ............................................................................................................................. 2
5 Seva Bhoj Scheme ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Let’s Practice ................................................................................................................................................................ 3

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Schemes from

2018 and 2019)

1 Pilot scheme on fortification of Rice and its Distribution under PDS

Launch Year: 2019
Implemented By: Department of Food & Public Distribution (DoF&PD)
Funding and Tenure:
• The Pilot Scheme is funded by Government of India in the ratio of 90:10 in respect of North
Eastern, Hilly and Island States and 75:25 in respect of the rest of the States.
• Three years beginning 2019-2020 with a total budget outlay of Rs 174.6 Crore.
Aim: To address anemia and micro-nutrient deficiency in the country.
Objective:
• Distribution of fortified rice through Public Distribution System.
• Coverage of all NFSA beneficiaries under the PDS with fortified rice in the selected Districts.
• Facilitate cross-learning and sharing of best practices among States/UTs and DoF&PD.
• To evaluate the provision, coverage, and utilization of fortified rice by the target population as
well as the efficacy/effectiveness of the consumption of fortified rice in reducing the targeted
micronutrient deficiencies in different age and gender groups.
Key Features
• The operational responsibilities for implementation of the Pilot Scheme lie with the States/UTs.

2 National Laboratory Directory

Launch Year: 2019
Developed By: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
Key Features:
• It is a one-stop-shop for all testing needs of the industries, academia, researchers and other
stakeholders who need to get their testing facilities accredited / certified / recognised.
1|P a g e Q U E R Y ? H E L L O @ E D U T A P . C O . I N / 8 1 4 6 2 0 7 2 4 1
• This directory will benefit all stakeholders in identifying the test facilities that are required for
assessing the conformity of relevant products or in testing for the purpose of research and
development.
• The National Lab Directory presently encompasses NABL accredited, BIS Recognised/ Empanelled
Labs, Hallmarking Labs.

3 Integrated Management of Public Distribution System

Launch Year: 2018
Objective:
• To integrate PDS system/portals of States/UTs with Central System/portals, introduction of
National Portability, and de-duplication of ration cards/beneficiary, etc.
• To introduce nation-wide portability of ration card holders under National Food Security Act,
2013 (NFSA) through One Nation One Ration Card system.
Focus Areas:
• National level de-duplication of all ration cards/beneficiaries’ data.
• Integration of States/UTs PDS systems/applications with Central PDS systems/applications.
• Use of advanced data analytics techniques to bring about continuous improvements in PDS
operations.
• Development of advanced web and mobile-based applications.
• Facilitation of cross-learning and sharing of best practices between States/UTs, etc.
Significance
• It will bring more transparency and efficiency in the distribution of foodgrains.
• It will improve the mechanism to identify fake/duplicate ration cards and provide the option to
PDS beneficiaries to lift their entitled foodgrains from the Fair Price Shops of their choice at the
national level.
• The scheme will ensure food security of migrant labourers who move to other states to seek
better job opportunities.

Ministry of Culture (Schemes from 2018 and 2019)

4 Digital Bharat, Digital Sanskriti

Launch Year: 2019
• Union Minister of State for Culture & Tourism (IC), Shri Prahlad Singh Patel has launched the E-
Portal of CCRT ‘Digital Bharat Digital Sanskriti' and CCRT YouTube Channel.
Aim: It will enable dissemination of cultural education through digital interactive medium into the
classrooms all over the country.
Key Features
• For this initiative, CCRT has tied up with Routes 2 Roots, an NGO, for connecting seamlessly all
the CCRT Regional Centres i.e., Guwahati, Udaipur and Hyderabad.

5 Seva Bhoj Scheme

Launch Year: 2018
2|P a g e Q U E R Y ? H E L L O @ E D U T A P . C O . I N / 8 1 4 6 2 0 7 2 4 1
Aim: To provide financial assistance on purchase of specific food items by Charitable Religious
Institutions (CRIs) for free distribution among people.
Eligibility:
• The Charitable religious institutions which have been in existence for at least 3 years before
applying for financial assistance/grant.
• Charitable religious institution who serve free food to at least 5000 people in a month
• Institutions need to be covered under Section 10 of the Income Tax Act,1961 or are registered as
a society under the Societies Registration Act or as a Public Trust under any law for the time being
in force of statuary religious bodies constituted under any Act or institutions registered
under Section 12AA of Income Tax Act, 1961.
• The Institution/Organization blacklisted under the provisions of Foreign Contribution
Regulation Act (FCRA) or under the provisions of any Act/Rules of the Central/State shall not be
eligible for financial assistance under the scheme.
Key Feature:
• The scheme envisages reimbursing the Central Government share of Central Goods and Services
Tax (CGST) and Integrated Goods and Service Tax (IGST) so as to lessen the financial burden of
such Charitable Religious Institutions who provide Food/Prasad/Langar (Community
Kitchen)/Bhandara free of cost without any discrimination to Public/Devotees.
• The specific raw food items covered under the Scheme are Ghee, Edible Oil, Sugar/Burra/Jaggery,
Rice, Atta/Maida/Rava/Flour and Pulses.

Let’s Practice
Q.1) Pilot scheme on fortification of Rice and its Distribution under PDS has been launched to address
________ and micro-nutrient deficiency in the country.
a) Blood Pressure
b) Diabetes
c) Marasmus
d) Anemia
e) None of the Above
Answer: D
Explanation:
• Pilot scheme on fortification of Rice and its Distribution under PDS has been launched to address
Anemia and micro-nutrient deficiency in the country.

Q.2) National Laboratory Directory has been developed by ________.

a) BIS
b) NIC
c) CSIR

3|P a g e Q U E R Y ? H E L L O @ E D U T A P . C O . I N / 8 1 4 6 2 0 7 2 4 1
d) AIIMS - Delhi
e) None of the Above
Answer: A
Explanation:
• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has developed National Laboratory Directory.

Q.3) Which of the following is/are the focus areas of Integrated Management of Public Distribution
System initiative of Ministry of Consumer Affairs?
a) National level de-duplication of all ration cards/beneficiaries’ data.
b) Integration of States/UTs PDS systems/applications with Central PDS systems/applications
c) Development of advanced web and mobile-based applications
d) Use of advanced data analytics techniques to bring about continuous improvements in PDS
operations
e) All of the Above
Answer: E
Explanation:
Focus Areas of Integrated Management of Public Distribution System:
• National level de-duplication of all ration cards/beneficiaries’ data.
• Integration of States/UTs PDS systems/applications with Central PDS systems/applications.
• Use of advanced data analytics techniques to bring about continuous improvements in PDS
operations.
• Development of advanced web and mobile-based applications.
• Facilitation of cross-learning and sharing of best practices between States/UTs, etc.

Q.4) Charitable religious institutions who serve free food to at least ________ people in a month are
eligible for Seva Bhoj Scheme.
a) 2,500
b) 8,000
c) 10,000
d) 5000
e) 12,000
Answer: D
Explanation:
• Charitable religious institutions who serve free food to at least 5000 people in a month are
eligible for Seva Bhoj Scheme.

4|P a g e Q U E R Y ? H E L L O @ E D U T A P . C O . I N / 8 1 4 6 2 0 7 2 4 1