India’s Public Distribution System (PDS) plays a crucial role in ensuring food security but suffers from several structural shortcomings. Leakage and diversion of subsidized grains into the open market remain significant due to corruption among officials and fair price shop (FPS) owners. Targeting errors, including both exclusion of deserving beneficiaries and inclusion of non-deserving households, further weaken the system, often due to outdated or inaccurate ration card databases.

Frequent complaints include poor quality and irregular supply of grains. Inadequate storage infrastructure at procurement, transport, and distribution points results in spoilage and wastage. Additionally, lack of transparency, weak accountability, and ineffective grievance redressal mechanisms hinder efficient functioning.

While reforms such as Aadhaar linkage, electronic Point of Sale (e-PoS) devices, and digital tracking systems have improved monitoring and accessibility, many fundamental issues persist. These structural challenges continue to restrict PDS’s ability to provide timely, quality, and equitable food distribution to vulnerable populations, limiting its effectiveness in achieving comprehensive food security for all eligible beneficiaries.