Overview
- The Union Cabinet approved SARTHAK‑PDS on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, allocating ₹25,530 crore for a five‑year run from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031 to modernise the public distribution system.
- The scheme merges two existing programmes—state support for intra‑state foodgrain movement and FPS dealer margins plus the SMART PDS technology drive—under one centrally financed umbrella while keeping the existing funding pattern.
- The government named three AI modules: NIRMAL for a real‑time beneficiary registry, ASHA for multilingual AI grievance handling via WhatsApp/IVRS/chatbots, and SAKSHAM for AI supply‑chain tools such as vehicle tracking, QR traceability, demand forecasting and route optimisation.
- Officials said logistics optimisation could cut transport distances by 15–50%, save about ₹280 crore a year and trim supply‑chain carbon emissions by roughly 35%, but fair price shop associations have criticised the marginal dealer commission rise of about ₹0.10/kg and warned of protests.
- SARTHAK‑PDS builds on a decade of digitisation reforms and is aimed at strengthening NFSA delivery for roughly 81 crore beneficiaries, with next steps including state command centres, India AI Mission integration and phased state‑level implementation that will affect how ration shops operate and how beneficiaries file complaints.