Role of Public Distribution System in India in Achieving Food and Nutritional Security

The paper has looked into the role of public distribution system (PDS) in India in achieving food and nutritional security in the country. Under the PDS, the commodities, namely wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene are being allocated to the states for distribution. The study has found that volume of production and procurement of wheat have increased from 72.8 Mt and 20.6 Mt in 2001–02 to about 93.9 Mt and 28.3 Mt in 2011–12, respectively. The volume of production and procurement of rice have increased from 93.3 Mt and 21.1 Mt in 2001–02 to about 104.3 Mt and 37.9 Mt in 2011–12, respectively. The study has also computed the rate of allotment of food grains by the central government to state governments for the period 2001 to 2012. The paper has analysed the trends in food subsidy released for various welfare schemes in India for the post-reforms period (1991–92 to 2011–12) and has found it to be 0.6 per cent of total GDP, 3.8 per cent of agricultural GDP and 42.4 per cent of all budgetary subsidies of the central government and it has grown at an annual compound growth rate of over 17 per cent. The study has suggested some measures to address the mismanagement and loopholes in the PDS.