Food Minister Pralhad Joshi launches smart warehousing system of Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) using AI and IoT technologies.

Key facts

• Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi launched the smart warehousing system of Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) that uses modern technologies like AI and IoT to monitor inventory and real-time operations in 216 grain warehouses through integrated dashboards.
• The system is being introduced to ensure transparency and curb foodgrains diversion, as foodgrains for Public Distribution System (PDS) are stored in CWC and Food Corporation of India (FCI) depots.
• The smart warehousing system deploys FASTag and ANPR-based gate automation integrated with VAHAN-SARATHI databases, smart locking systems, AI-based bag counting, face recognition-enabled authorised quality inspections, IoT gas sensors for carbon dioxide and phosphine monitoring, and AI surveillance for fire, smoke, and rodent detection.
• These technologies are integrated with the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, generating automated records, real-time alerts, and multi-level operational dashboards from warehouse level to the ministry.
• Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra stated that about 150 FCI warehouses will be under the smart warehousing system by October.