Food Security Act - Public Distribution System

The National Food Security Act, 2013, is a landmark legislation establishing food security as a legal right of vulnerable and marginalized populations. The Act provides subsidized food grains to approximately 81+ crore Indian citizens through the Public Distribution System (PDS). Coverage includes 75% of rural population and 50% of urban population, prioritizing below-poverty-line (BPL) households and scheduled castes/tribes. Eligible households receive ration cards linked to Aadhaar and biometric identification, categorized as priority (AAY/BPL) or general households. Each household receives monthly allocations: 5 kg of rice and wheat combined per household member per month at highly subsidized prices (Rs. 2/kg for rice, Rs. 3/kg for wheat). Distribution occurs through Fair Price Shops (FPS), typically private or government-run retailers in each locality authorized to sell PDS grains. The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) uses technology (barcode scanning, biometric verification, POS machines) to prevent grain diversion and ensure direct grain reach to intended beneficiaries. Entitlements can be accessed by any adult member of the household; monthly purchases are recorded. The Act includes provisions for food security during emergencies, cooking fuel subsidies, and maternity benefits. e-PDS platforms enable online ration purchase tracking and grievance redressal. A critical pitfall: many eligibility records are outdated or duplicated; fraudulent ration cards issued to ineligible beneficiaries reduce grain availability for genuine poor households. Additionally, quality of grain distributed through PDS often deteriorates due to poor storage and handling.