Govt OKs INR 255.30 bln for revamped PDS system under free food grain plan
This story was originally published at 15:22 IST on 27 May 2026
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--Cabinet OKs Sarthak PDS with INR-255.30-bln outlay
--Cabinet OKs Sarthak-PDS scheme for 5 years till Mar 31, 2031
--Govt:Sarthak-PDS to aid state agencies for intra-state foodgrain movement
NEW DELHI – The Union Cabinet Wednesday approved INR 255.30 billion for the Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS or 'SARTHAK-PDS', a digital platform designed to reform the public distribution system and manage the distribution of free food grains under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. The scheme will run for a period of five years till 2030-31 (Apr-Mar), Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
Under 'SARTHAK-PDS', the government will assist state agencies with expenditure incurred on intra-state movement of food grains, support fair price shops and their protect dealers' margins, and strengthen focus on an efficient and technology-driven distribution system.
"The Scheme will work towards fulfilling the Government of India's commitment to 81.35 crore (813.5 million) persons covered under NFSA (National Food Security Act)," the government said in a release. "Building on the statutory and policy framework, SARTHAK-PDS retains and streamlines the financial assistance component while simultaneously embedding it within a modern, technology-driven PDS ecosystem," it said.
This is part of the government's plan to modernise the food grain distribution system to ensure minimum logistics cost, last-mile connectivity, and technology-driven distribution to avoid leakage, Vaishnaw also said. End
Reported by Priyasmita Dutta
Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury
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