PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN INDIA FROM A WAR-TIME RATIONING MEASURE TO LEGAL ENTITLEMENT

Abstract

Public Distribution System (PDS) is an Indian food security system established under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution. PDS developed as a strategy of managing shortages through the inexpensive distribution of foodgrains at reliable rates. PDS has been in use in India for more than eighty years. Present paper is an attempt to trace the development of Indian public distribution system, a mechanism for ensuring food security in India. The changing functions of the public distribution system over a long span of time since its inception is discussed in present paper. This paper is descriptive and exploratory in nature and is based on secondary data collected from the various authentic sources like research paper, government websites, newspapers and other important sources. KEY WORDS: PDS; National Food Security Act 2013; COVID-19; 2nd World War