Targeted Public Distribution System: Performance and Inefficiencies

The Public Distribution System (PDS) continues to be a major instrument for ensuring food security for the poor. The basic objective of shifting from a universal PDS (TPDS) was to benefit the poor at acceptable budgetary cost. The success of the TPDS depends largely on the ability of the state governments to identify the genuinely poor families, and in putting in place an effective and efficient delivery system.