On 27th May, 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, approved the integration and continuation of key Public Distribution System (PDS) schemes under the umbrella Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS (SARTHAK-PDS). The scheme has been approved for the award period of the 16th Finance Commission with a Central share outlay of ₹25,530 crore. The decision aims to strengthen food security delivery through enhanced support for foodgrain distribution and technology-driven reforms, while improving transparency, efficiency, and last-mile service delivery. The initiative is expected to support the Government’s commitment to ensuring food security for beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013 and contribute towards the vision of Viksit Bharat (@) 2047
I. Cabinet Approves Continuation Of Sarthak-PDS For Strengthening Technology-Enabled Food Security Delivery
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the continuation of the Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS (SARTHAK-PDS) as an umbrella scheme for the award period of the 16th Finance Commission, with a Central share outlay of ₹25,530 crore. The scheme will remain operational up to 31st March, 2031.
The scheme integrates assistance provided to States and Union Territories for intra-State movement and handling of foodgrains and Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers’ margin under the National Food Security Act, 2013 with the technology-driven SMART-PDS initiative. The Cabinet also approved the revision of norms for Central assistance towards expenditure incurred on intra-State movement and handling of foodgrains and FPS dealers’ margin while retaining the existing funding pattern.
The scheme will leverage advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Blockchain to strengthen transparency, monitoring, and efficiency in the Public Distribution System. The initiative is expected to reduce leakages, improve last-mile delivery of foodgrains, and support food security for 81.35 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
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