Public Distribution System

The Public Distribution System (PDS) in India

is a government-run initiative aimed at
distributing essential commodities to vulnerable
sections of society at subsidized rates
 Launch Of PDS
It was institutionalized in 1965 under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, with
the establishment of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to procure, store, and
distribute food grains.

The system was revamped in 1997 with the launch of the Targeted Public
Distribution System (TPDS), which aimed to focus more on the poor and reduce
leakage by distinguishing between Above Poverty Line (APL) and Below Poverty
Line (BPL) households.

In recent years, the National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 further
strengthened the PDS, covering two-thirds of the population and ensuring a right to
food.
 Objectives
•Food Security: Ensure availability and access to essential commodities at
affordable prices, especially for low-income and vulnerable sections.
•Price Stabilization: Protect consumers from the volatility in food prices by
offering subsidized rates.
•Eradicate Hunger and Malnutrition: Address hunger and malnutrition by
providing food grains to the poorest sections of society.
•Poverty Alleviation: Provide economic relief to the poor by reducing their
expenditure on basic food items, contributing to poverty alleviation.
•Distribution of Subsidies: Ensure that the food subsidies reach the
intended beneficiaries, reducing inequalities.
•Rural Development: Improve the standard of living in rural areas through
the equitable distribution of resources.
•Support to Farmers: Provide a stable market for agricultural produce
through the FCI, ensuring farmers get a fair price for their crops.
Thank You