Question

WHAT IS PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM?EXPLAIN ANY THREE MAJOR ROLES OF PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM?

Answer 1

• Public Distribution System (PDS) is the most important step taken by the Government of India towards ensuring food security. The food procured by the FCI is distributed through government regulated ration shops among the poorer section of the society. This is called the public distribution system (PDS).
  Ration shops are now present in most localities, villages, towns, and cities. Ration shops also known as Fair Price Shops keep stock of food grains, sugar, kerosene oil for cooking. These items are sold to people at a price lower than the market price.
  
  Roles:
  
• The PDS has proved to be the most effective instrument of government policy over the years in stabilising prices and making food available to consumers at affordable prices.
• It has been instrumental in averting widespread hunger and famine by supplying food from surplus regions of the country to the deficit ones.
• The prices have been under revision in favour of poor households in general

​​