Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi launched a smart warehousing system on Thursday to monitor inventory and operations on a real-time basis in 216 grain storage warehouses of the public sector Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) using modern technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI). As reported by Business Standard, Joshi said: "It is our responsibility to keep the foodgrains safe and secure." The system is equipped with advanced AI and IoT-driven technologies, including FASTag and ANPR-based gate automation integration with VAHAN-SARATHI databases, smart locking systems for controlled godown access, AI-based bag counting, face recognition-enabled authorized quality inspections, IoT gas sensors for carbon dioxide and Phosphine monitoring, and AI surveillance for fire, smoke and rodent detection. Food Corporation of India (FCI) will implement the system in 150 of its warehouses by October.
Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi announced that state governments have successfully removed 2.21 crore ineligible ration card holders from PDS lists, creating scope for issuing nearly 3 crore more cards to eligible beneficiaries. According to reports from Business Standard, the food ministry had initially identified 8.51 crore ineligible beneficiaries, including names of deceased persons, income-tax payers, and four-wheeler owners, which were forwarded to states for action. Joshi clarified that these deletions were carried out by state governments following their own criteria, not by the Centre. Speaking at the launch of the smart warehousing system, Joshi emphasized that the deletions were carried out by state governments following their own criteria, not by the Centre. The Centre is providing 5 kg of rice/wheat per month to each of the 79 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act.
As reported by Business Standard, there are now 79 crore ration cards in the country following the deletion exercise. The minister emphasized that the Centre's objective is not to save but to ensure foodgrains reach the needy. Joshi noted that deletions have not been uniform across the country, with some states completing the exercise while others are yet to identify ineligible beneficiaries. The target for distributing free foodgrains under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana remains at 80 crore. Since there is scope for issuing nearly 3 crore fresh ration cards to eligible beneficiaries, the Centre could consider adding more, according to Joshi's recent media statements.
According to Business Standard, the minister highlighted that PDS digitisation has led to 98.5 per cent of foodgrains distributed under PMGKY being authenticated through Aadhaar numbers and ePoS machines. New technologies are being deployed across PDS operations, including smart warehouses and depots, with the ministry working towards a fully digital distribution system. Joshi also claimed that about 25 crore people have moved out of multidimensional poverty since Covid due to implementation of several schemes, including PMGKY, citing international forums such as the IMF and Niti Aayog.
As reported by Business Standard, regarding the possibility of an increase in the food subsidy bill this year, Joshi stated that the government 'will be able to manage with the allocation budget'. The minister emphasized that the Centre's focus remains on ensuring food security and reaching the needy through the public distribution system, with states being permitted to add eligible beneficiaries to the system. The smart warehousing system is being introduced to ensure transparency and check any foodgrains diversion for other than PDS, with officials stating that the system will help strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS) by providing real-time monitoring and automated records.
