Decision to allocate 35 lakh tonnes of wheat for distribution in PDS till March 2025

18-Sep-2024 08:49 PM

New Delhi. The Central Government has decided to partially provide its stock to the beneficiaries receiving wheat under the Public Distribution System (PDS). For this, a quota of 35 lakh tonnes of wheat has been allocated for the period up to March 31, 2025.

As a result, at least 20 crore people will get the opportunity to get wheat at the rate of 5 kg per month, which was stopped earlier.

This new allocation of wheat will become effective or applicable from next month i.e. October 2024.

It is worth noting that earlier all the beneficiaries of PDS were being given free ration (wheat or rice), but due to some adverse circumstances in the year 2022, the quota allocation of wheat for many states was reduced or abolished.

According to the Union Food Secretary, now the government has decided to increase the annual quota allocation of wheat by 35 lakh tonnes and it will be adjusted with the same quantity of rice.

It may be noted that when the wheat quota was reduced, the rice allocation was increased. At present, the Food Corporation of India needs 184.60 lakh tonnes of wheat annually to fulfil its distribution responsibilities under the National Food Security Act and other welfare schemes.