Which of the following is/are correct about the Public Distribution System (PDS)?

1. It is an Indian food Security System established under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.

2. It helps in ensuring the Food and Nutritional Security of the nation.

3. It maintains the buffer stock of food grains in the warehouse.

Select the correct code given below.

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 3.

Key Points

• It is an Indian food Security System established under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.  Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
• The Public Distribution System (PDS) evolved as a system of management of scarcity through the distribution of food grains at affordable prices.
• It helps in ensuring the Food and Nutritional Security of the nation. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
• PDS is supplemental in nature and is not intended to make available the entire requirement of any of the commodities distributed under it to a household or a section of the society.
• PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State Governments.
• It maintains the buffer stock of food grains in the warehouse. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.
• The Central Government, through the Food Corporation of India (FCI), has assumed the responsibility for procurement, storage, transportation, and bulk allocation of food grains to the State Governments.
• The operational responsibility including allocation within the State, identification of eligible families, Issue of Ration Cards, and supervision of the functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs), etc., rests with the State Governments.
• Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution.
• Some states/UTs also distribute additional items of mass consumption through PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc.