GS3 · 10 marks · 150 words

Under the Public Distribution System of India, the Fair Price Shop (FPS) transformation is an evolving process. Discuss.

Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2024–2025

Food Security and PDS

Syllabus: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.

How toppers approached it

From all 4 answers · about 170 words · 75% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • A definition3 of 4
  • A figure1 of 4

Body

  • Points3 of 4
  • Points and prose1 of 4

Close

  • A summary3 of 4
  • A way forward1 of 4

The toppers’ answers

Simrandeep KaurAIR 15 · CSE 2025 · 159 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Fair Price Shops (FPS) under Public Distribution System (PDS) are nodes to ensure legal right of beneficiaries under National Food Security Act.

Body · points

Challenges in FPS for now

  1. Hubs for corruption & diversion of foodgrains to non-beneficiaries.
  2. Dominance of Rice & wheat foodgrains, neglection of other food & needs.
  3. Exclusion & Inclusion errors due to poor revision of data.
  4. Less empowerment of poor people due to charity based measures.
  5. Less integration for migrants. need of One Nation, One Ration Card.

Transformation of FPs.

  1. Digital interventions: e.g. e-Ration cards & computerisation of records.
  2. Account Aggregations to address exclusion-inclusion errors. e.g. MGNREGA, Swamitva, etc.
  3. Citizen Charter to provide quality services.
  4. food fortification & diversification for all round security. e.g. Pulses, millets, etc.
  5. New development e.g. e-Rupi person specific & purpose specific welfare.

Close · a summary

Fair Price shops are important pillar of providing social justice to 70% rural population & 50% urban population.

More on Food Security and PDS

The Public Distribution System, buffer stocks, the National Food Security Act, hunger and nutrition as a distribution problem.

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