Cabinet approves SARTHAK-PDS umbrella scheme; ₹25,530 crore outlay (2026–31) to modernise PDS and strengthen NFSA delivery

📌 Summary:

• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Modi, approved continuation of two PDS schemes — (i) "Assistance to State Agencies for intra-State movement of foodgrains & FPS dealers' margin under NFSA" and (ii) "Scheme for Modernization and Reforms through Technology in PDS (SMART PDS)" — integrated under a new umbrella scheme: SARTHAK-PDS (Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS)
• Outlay: ₹25,530 crore (Central share) for the 16th Finance Commission cycle, operating up to 31 March 2031
• Two prongs: (a) assured financial support for intra-State foodgrain movement, handling and FPS dealer margin; (b) a unified, citizen-centric, intelligent and interoperable PDS architecture
• Norms of Central assistance for States/UTs revised; existing funding pattern of Central Assistance continued
• Modernisation leverages AI, Machine Learning, NLP and Blockchain to standardise PDS architecture and minimise leakages
• Higher FPS dealers' commission to incentivise last-mile delivery of foodgrains to ~80 crore NFSA beneficiaries
• Aims at transparency, security and sustainability in PDS operations

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Food Security & PDS, Government schemes for vulnerable sections, Agriculture-economy linkages; GS2 — Welfare scheme architecture; touches NFSA, 2013 implementation.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• SARTHAK-PDS = Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS
• Approval body: CCEA, chaired by the Prime Minister
• Central outlay: ₹25,530 crore (16th Finance Commission cycle, up to 31.03.2031)
• Subsumes: (i) NFSA intra-State movement/FPS-margin scheme + (ii) SMART PDS
• Anchor law: National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 — entitles ~67% of population to subsidised foodgrains via PDS
• Technologies leveraged: AI, ML, NLP, Blockchain

🔑 Key Term: SARTHAK-PDS — an umbrella PDS modernisation and operations scheme that combines intra-State foodgrain movement assistance, FPS dealers' margin and technology-driven PDS reform to strengthen NFSA delivery up to 2031.