Content
- Securing Every Plate
Securing Every Plate
CONTEXT & BACKGROUND
- Constitutional Basis:
- Article 47 (Directive Principles): Duty of the State to raise nutrition level and standard of living.
- Right to Food interpreted as part of Article 21 (Right to Life) — PUCL vs Union of India (2001).
- Economic & Social Context:
- India produces over 330 million tonnes of foodgrains (2023-24) yet faces persistent undernutrition — NFHS-5 (2019–21) shows 35.5% children stunted, 32.1% underweight.
- Balancing production, distribution, and nutrition equity is the core policy challenge.
- Objective of the Mission (2025):
To ensure food and nutritional security for 81 crore citizens through a production–distribution–nutrition continuum, combining agricultural, welfare, and technological reforms.
Relevance :
- GS 2 – Governance & Social Justice: Welfare schemes, food security, rights-based entitlements, delivery mechanisms (NFSA, TPDS, PMGKAY).
- GS 3 – Agriculture & Economy: Foodgrain production, procurement, storage, and technology-driven supply chains.
- GS 3 – Science & Technology: Use of digital platforms (ONORC, SMART-PDS, Mera Ration) in welfare governance.
- GS 2 – Polity: Constitutional linkage — Article 21 (Right to Life) and Article 47 (Directive Principles).
- GS 1 – Society: Issues of hunger, malnutrition, and nutrition equity.
HISTORICAL EVOLUTION
| Phase | Key Development | Focus |
| 1960s | Green Revolution, Food Corporation of India (1965), MSP system | Production stability |
| 1970s–90s | Expansion of Public Distribution System (PDS) | Availability |
| 1997 | Targeted PDS (TPDS) | Targeted subsidies |
| 2007 | National Food Security Mission (NFSM) | Productivity revival |
| 2013 | National Food Security Act (NFSA) | Legal right to food |
| 2020–22 | PMGKAY (COVID-19) | Emergency support |
| 2024–25 | NFSNM (renamed NFSM) | Linking production to nutrition |
| 2025 | SMART-PDS & fortified rice expansion | Tech-driven, nutrition-focused reform |
DUAL FRAMEWORK OF FOOD SECURITY
A. Production Pillar — NFSNM (National Food Security & Nutrition Mission)
- Origin: Began as NFSM in 2007–08; renamed NFSNM in 2024–25.
- Aim: Boost productivity & integrate nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
- Components:
- Expansion to rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals.
- Soil fertility restoration, integrated pest/nutrient management.
- Distribution of certified seeds, crop demonstrations.
- Capacity building of farmers through seasonal trainings.
- Institutional Coverage: Implemented across all States/UTs; monitored by DAC&FW (MoA&FW).
- Outcome: Sustained record foodgrain production — 330.5 MMT (2023–24).
B. Distribution Pillar — NFSA 2013 & TPDS
- Coverage: Up to 75% rural, 50% urban population (≈81.35 crore persons).
- Entitlements:
- AAY households: 35 kg/household/month.
- Priority households: 5 kg/person/month.
- Free foodgrains since Jan 2023; extended till Dec 2028 under PMGKAY with ₹11.80 lakh crore outlay.
- Current beneficiaries (Oct 2025): 78.9 crore.
- Special Entitlements:
- Pregnant/lactating women & children (6 months–14 years):
- Meals under ICDS & PM-POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal).
- ₹6,000 maternity benefit under PMMVY.
- Revised nutritional norms (2023) — improved caloric & micronutrient content.
- Pregnant/lactating women & children (6 months–14 years):
DELIVERY SYSTEM — TPDS (Targeted Public Distribution System)
Administrative Responsibility
| Function | Centre | States/UTs |
| Procurement, allocation, transport | FCI, DoFPD | |
| Intra-state distribution, beneficiary identification, FPS management | State Food Departments |
- Procurement System:
- Decentralized Procurement (DCP): States like Punjab, MP, Chhattisgarh procure directly.
- Centralized Procurement (Non-DCP): FCI-led procurement.
Procurement Data (2025)
- Paddy (KMS 2024–25): 813.88 LMT, valued ₹1.9 lakh crore (1.15 crore farmers).
- Wheat (RMS 2025–26): 300.35 LMT, valued ₹72,834 crore (25.13 lakh farmers).
- Central Pool Stock (July 2025): Rice – 377.83 LMT; Wheat – 358.78 LMT (well above buffer norms).
SUPPLEMENTARY & INNOVATIVE INITIATIVES
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
- Launched 2020 (COVID-19 emergency); now merged with NFSA free grain supply.
- Universal free grain entitlement till 2028.
- ₹11.80 lakh crore fully borne by Centre.
Rice Fortification Initiative
- Launched: 2019 pilot; scaled to all districts by March 2024.
- Micronutrients: Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12.
- Phased implementation:
- Phase I – ICDS & PM POSHAN (2021–22)
- Phase II – +TPDS (269 districts, 2022–23)
- Phase III – All India coverage (2023–24)
- Cabinet approval (2025): Continue till Dec 2028, ₹17,082 crore.
- Covers 65% of population dependent on rice as staple.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for Food Subsidy
- Rules notified (2015); optional for States/UTs.
- Implemented in: Chandigarh, Puducherry, and parts of DNH&DD.
- Mechanism: Subsidy cash credited directly → beneficiaries buy foodgrains from open market.
- Advantages: Reduced leakage, dietary choice, financial inclusion.
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) & PM POSHAN
- ICDS Coverage: up-to 6 years children, pregnant & lactating women, adolescent girls (14–18 yrs).
- FY 2024–25 Allocation: 26.46 LMT grains.
- PM POSHAN Coverage: Govt & aided schools up to age 14.
- FY 2024–25 Allocation: 22.96 LMT grains.
- Impact: Improved attendance, learning outcomes, and nutrition.
One Nation, One Ration Card (ONORC)
- Implemented in all 36 States/UTs.
- Enables portability across FPSs via Aadhaar-authenticated ePoS.
- 191 crore portability transactions (till Oct 2025).
- Major relief for migrant workers.
Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) [OMSS(D)]
- Disposal of surplus rice/wheat to:
- Stabilize prices
- Boost availability
- Prevent inflation
- Bharat Atta & Bharat Rice (2025): Affordable staples for general consumers.
TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN GOVERNANCE REFORMS
| Reform | Progress/Impact (as of Oct 2025) |
| Digitization of ration cards | 100% |
| Aadhaar seeding | 99.9% |
| FPS automation (ePoS) | 99.6% (5.41 lakh of 5.43 lakh) |
| Online allocation & supply chain mgmt | 31 States/UTs |
| Grievance redressal (toll-free 1967) | All States/UTs |
Key Digital Innovations
1. Mera Ration 2.0 (2024)
- Real-time entitlements, nearest FPS locator, transaction details.
- 1 crore+ downloads.
2. Anna Mitra App (2024)
- Field monitoring & stock management for FPS dealers/officers.
- Operational in 15 States/UTs.
3. SMART-PDS (2025 rollout)
- Integrated tech architecture covering:
- Procurement
- Supply Chain
- Ration Card/FPS mgmt
- Biometric Distribution (e-KYC)
- Aim: Real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and zero-leakage regime.
FINANCIAL & INSTITUTIONAL DIMENSIONS
| Parameter | Value |
| NFSA/PMGKAY (Free grain 2024–2028) | ₹11.80 lakh crore |
| Rice Fortification (till 2028) | ₹17,082 crore |
| Central Pool (July 2025) | 736.61 LMT total grains |
| Annual NFSA allocation (2025–26) | 18.5 million tonnes |
| FCI procurement expenditure (2025) | ~₹2.6 lakh crore |
CHALLENGES & WAY FORWARD
Challenges
- Nutritional Diversification: Overreliance on cereals; limited pulses, millets.
- Leakages & Exclusion Errors: Though reduced, still prevalent in few States.
- Climate Variability: Threatens MSP procurement regions.
- Fiscal Burden: ₹2.5–3 lakh crore annually on food subsidy.
- Storage & Logistics: FCI faces high carrying cost and wastage risk.
Way Forward
- Diversify procurement basket: Include millets, pulses, oilseeds (align with IYOM 2023 momentum).
- Nutrition-sensitive agriculture: Integrate horticulture & animal protein programs.
- Smart logistics: Warehouse digitalization, AI-based buffer forecasting.
- DBT scale-up: Empower consumer choice and reduce subsidy distortion.
- Strengthen local food systems: Leverage SHGs & cooperatives (e.g., Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana linkage).
CONCLUSION
- India’s food security architecture now combines:
- NFSNM – Ensures production & nutritional yield.
- NFSA + TPDS/PMGKAY – Ensures equitable access.
- Tech-driven governance (SMART-PDS, ONORC) – Ensures efficiency & transparency.
- This multi-layered framework ensures that no citizen sleeps hungry, that farmers are supported, and that nutrition equity becomes a national guarantee.
- India’s journey from “ship-to-mouth” (1960s) to “food surplus and fortified” (2025) exemplifies a transformation anchored in production strength, welfare expansion, and digital transparency.
