Expand TPDS

In June, 1997, the Government of India started the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) with attention on the poor. Under the PDS, States were need to formulate and implement foolproof arrangements for ranging of the poor for delivery of food grains and for its distribution in a transparent and liable manner at the FPS level.

The amount of food grains in excess of the needs of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families was provided to the State as ‘transitory allocation’ for which a quantity of 103 lakh loads of food grains was set apart annually. Over and above the TPDS allocation, additional allocation to States was also given. The transitory allotment was intended for continuation of benefit of subsidized food grains to the population Above the Poverty Line (APL) as any sudden withdrawal of benefits existing under PDS from them was not considered desirable. The transitory allocation was issued at prices, which were subsidized but were higher than the prices for the BPL limit of food grains.