UPSC Mains 2019 GS3 Q13 — Food Security (PDS)
What are the reformative steps taken by the Government to make food grain distribution system more effective? (Answer in 250 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- What
- Scope keywords
- reformative stepsGovernmentfood grain distribution systemmore effective
- Implicit sub-parts
- Identify the specific inefficiencies and leakages in the pre-reform PDS/TPDS framework.
- Categorize the technological and legislative reforms introduced (e.g., DBT, NFSA, digitalization).
- Analyze how these reforms specifically address effectiveness (transparency, targeting, and nutritional security).
- Briefly mention the persisting challenges to show a nuanced understanding of 'effectiveness'.
- Common pitfalls
- Spending too much time describing the history of the Green Revolution instead of modern reforms.
- Failing to mention the 'One Nation One Ration Card' (ONORC) scheme, which is central to modern effectiveness.
- Ignoring the shift from food security to nutritional security (fortified rice) in recent government policy.
- Neglecting the role of ICT, such as e-PoS devices and Aadhaar seeding, in reducing ghost beneficiaries.
- Dimensions required
- Technological (Digitalization/End-to-end tracking)Legislative (NFSA 2013/PMGKAY)Administrative (Decentralized Procurement)Logistical (Storage/Supply Chain Management)Social/Inclusionary (Targeting and Migrant Portability)
- Marks allocation hint
Spend 50 words on the transition from TPDS to NFSA as a baseline. Use 150 words to detail specific reformative pillars like ICT integration, ONORC, and fortified grains. Use the final 50 words to evaluate 'effectiveness' through current outcomes and remaining gaps like storage wastage.
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