Year End Review of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

Year End review: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

Question: For the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2015-16 (October, 2015-September 2016), how much paddy in terms of rice has been procured?
(a) 342.19 lakhs tons
(b) 343.20 lakhs tons
(c) 423.19 lakhs tons
(d) None of the above
Ans: (a)
Related facts:

  • On 26 Decemeber 2016; Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution released its Year End Review of 2016.
  • Following are the related facts:
  • The National Food Security Act (NFSA) was enacted in 2013 and was being implemented in only 11 States/UTs in May, 2014.
  • As a result, 13 more States/UTs joined NFSA during the year and the Act is now being implemented in all the States/UTs and covers about 80 crore persons under the Act.
  • Sustained efforts have resulted in significant reforms in TPDS making it more transparent and leak proof with better targeting of food subsidy.
  • As a result thereof, 100% of ration cards have been digitized while 71.13% have been Aadhaar seeded.
  • Online allocation of food grains has started in 29 States/UTs, Supply chain has been computerized in 19 States/UTs and 1,76,834 Fair Price Shops (FPS) have been automated by installing ‘Point of Sale’ devices.
  • 6 States have now automated all their FPSs.
  • Cash Transfer for foodgrains under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme has been implemented in 3 UTs namely Chandigarh, Puducherry w.e.f. 1-9-2015 and in Dadra & Nagar Haveli (in urban areas) w.e.f. 01-03-2016.
  • Total beneficiaries covered under the scheme is 9.14 lakh and total amount of funds transferred is Rs.11.98 crore per month.
  • During Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2016-17, Govt. agencies have procured 229.32 lakh MT wheat as on 01.12.2016.
  • For the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2015-16 (October, 2015-September 2016), 342.19 Lakh tons of paddy in terms of rice has been procured.
  • In KMS 2016-17, 178.29 LMT of paddy in terms of rice has been procured till 13.12.2016.
  • Government took a number of measures like providing financial assistance of Rs. 413 crore through raw sugar export incentive scheme.
  • Financial assistance of Rs. 4305 crore under soft loan scheme has been provided by Government.
  • 99.33% of cane dues payments of farmers for 2014-15 sugar season and 98% (on FRP-basis) for 2015-16 sugar season have been cleared. .
  • Sufficient food grains are available in Central Pool Stocks of FCI. Stocks as on 1.12.2016 are 275.55 lakh MT (LMT), comprising 164.96 LMT wheat and 110.59 LMT rice which is more than adequate for Government welfare schemes as well as needs of PDS and other buffer stocking.
  • To bring all operations of FCI godowns online and to check leakage and automate operations at the depot level, ‘Depot Online’ system has been launched in 31 Depots on pilot basis across 27 States on 17th March 2016.
  • As on 30.11.2016, this system has been implemented in 494 depots
  • FCI has developed a software for Online Procurement Management System (OPMS) which is being used for procurement in the KMS 2016-17.
  • Buffer stock of about 6.95 lakh tonnes of pulses built under Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) scheme of the Department utilizing budgetary allocation.

Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=155855
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=155785