- Cabinet approved SARTHAK-PDS with ₹25,530 crore outlay
- Scheme integrates ration transport and SMART PDS initiatives
- AI, ML and Blockchain to be used for PDS modernization
- Scheme aims to strengthen foodgrain delivery for 81.35 crore beneficiaries
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 27th May: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the continuation and integration of two major public distribution system schemes under a new umbrella programme titled “Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS” (SARTHAK-PDS).
The Centre will spend ₹25,530 crore over the next five years under the scheme during the 16th Finance Commission award period.
The integrated scheme combines “Assistance to State Agencies for intra-State movement of foodgrains and FPS dealers’ margin under NFSA” and the “Scheme for Modernization and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System (SMART PDS)”.
According to the government, the SARTHAK-PDS scheme aims to ensure uninterrupted last-mile delivery of foodgrains, strengthen fair price shop operations and modernize the public distribution system through advanced technologies.
The Cabinet also approved revised norms for Central assistance to states and Union Territories for intra-state transportation, handling of foodgrains and fair price shop dealer margins while continuing the existing funding pattern.
The scheme will remain operational till March 31, 2031.
The government said SARTHAK-PDS seeks to build a unified, citizen-centric and interoperable PDS ecosystem by using technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Blockchain.
The proposed reforms include real-time monitoring systems, AI-driven grievance redressal mechanisms, analytics platforms, State Command and Control Centres and ISO-certified operational frameworks to improve transparency, efficiency and sustainability in the distribution system.
The Centre said the scheme is part of its commitment to ensure food and nutritional security for 81.35 crore beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
Over the past decade, the government has implemented multiple digitisation initiatives in the PDS ecosystem, including end-to-end computerisation of the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Integrated Management of PDS (IM-PDS) and SMART PDS.
Citizen-centric applications such as Mera Ration, Anna Mitra, Rightful Targeting Dashboard and Anna Sahayata have also been introduced to improve accessibility and monitoring of foodgrain distribution across states and Union Territories.
