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(THE GIST OF PIB) SMART-PDS

(March-2023)

SMART-PDS is a technological driven initiative and the need of hour, therefore, all the States/UTs should make earnest efforts to implement SMART-PDS at the earliest, said Union Minister Piyush Goyal.
The Union Minister emphasised on a transparent and accountable system urging to reduce human intervention and promote automation in the existing processes.
He said transparency should be of utmost importance for free supply chain of foodgrains under Public Distribution System.

The Public Distribution System (PDS) evolved as a system of management of scarcity through distribution of foodgrains at affordable prices. Over the years, PDS has become an important part of the Government’s policy for management of the food economy in the country.
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.
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 the PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc.