UPSC Mains 2013 · GS III · Q4 · 10 marks · 200 words

Food Security Bill is expected to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in India. Critically discuss various apprehensions in its effective implementation along with the concerns it has generated in WTO.

हिन्दी में

खाद्य सुरक्षा बिल से भारत में भूख व कुपोषण के विलोपन की आशा है। उसके प्रभावी कार्यान्वयन में विभिन्न आशंकाओं का समालोचनात्मक विवेचना कीजिए। साथ ही यह भी बताएं कि विश्व व्यापार संगठन (WTO) में इससे कौनसी चिंताएं उत्पन्न हो गई हैं ?

Food Security and PDSSubsidies and MSPTrade and Foreign Investment

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Discuss the issues plaguing the PDS and FCI. Also, suggest reform measures to ensure food security.”

ShailputriAIR 315 · CSE 2023 · 192 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a constitutional or legal provision

PUCL V/s UOI - SC said access to food is a human right. To realise this right, PDS and FCI both are equally important.

PDS is a system of distribution of food grains to entitled households under NFSA, 2013.

FCI is a statutory body to carry out procurement, storage and distribution of food grains.

Issues plaguing PDS

Body · points and prose

a) Corruption, leakage. Only 40% food grains reach beneficiaries. (Shanta Kumar Committee)

b) High subsidy bill. Food subsidy bill 2.87 lakh crore in 2022.

c) Distorts cropping pattern. PDS only for wheat, rice -> so MSP -> farmers grow wheat, rice.

d) Targeting of beneficiaries - both inclusion and exclusion errors. [Eg] - Failure of Aadhar authentication.

Issues with FCI

a) Called 'food corruption of India' in late 1990s.

b) Inefficient operations & expensive.

c) Lack of storage capacity -> wastage.

d) No pro active liquidation policy.

e) Centralised nature of procurement.

f) Buffer stock -> government procure grains -> shortage -> increase price in market.

There is a need for reforms in both PDS and FCI as both are interlinked.

Diagram
- PDS Reforms - food coupons recommended by Economic Survey - Universal Basic Income - Direct Benefit Transfer (Eg - in Delhi) - Include more food like oil, salt to make nutritious diet - Rationalisation of beneficiaries (Eg - NITI said reduce coverage of rural population to 50% and urban 40%) - Digitisation & improve infrastructure

(b) Shanta Kumar Committee recommendation

Diagram
- FCI reforms - Proactive liquidation or export - Decentralised procurement - Procurement only from states where state agencies are not strong (Eg - UP, Bihar, West Bengal) - Being cold chain & infra - Shed excess manpower by VRS

Close · a framework

Need reforms to realise SDG 1 - 0 hunger.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2013, General Studies Paper III, Q4. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.