SARTHAK-PDS Scheme: ₹25,530 Crore Outlay for PDS Modernisation

Key facts

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS (SARTHAK-PDS) with a central outlay of ₹25,530 crore.
• The programme is scheduled to continue until March 31, 2031, covering the 16th Finance Commission cycle.
• SARTHAK-PDS integrates two existing initiatives: Assistance to State Agencies for intra-State movement of foodgrains and FPS dealers’ margin under National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the Scheme for Modernization and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System (SMART PDS).
• The scheme aims to ensure food and nutritional security for approximately 81.35 crore beneficiaries covered under the NFSA.
• The programme will utilise Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Blockchain to modernise Public Distribution System (PDS) operations.
• Digitisation initiatives implemented in the PDS ecosystem include End-to-End Computerisation of the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Integrated Management of PDS (IM-PDS), and SMART PDS.
• Citizen-centric applications introduced to improve PDS access and transparency include Mera Ration, Anna Mitra, Rightful Targeting Dashboard, and Anna Sahayata.