The scheme will be implemented during five years (April 2026 to March 2031), I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while briefing media about the Cabinet decision on May 27, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) approved extension of the 'SARTHAK-PDS' scheme, with an outlay of ₹25,530 crore, to provide assistance to State agencies for intra-State movement of food grains and modernisation of public distribution system.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the continuation of the 'Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS' (SARTHAK-PDS) as an umbrella scheme for the next five years, in the 16th Finance Commission cycle award period.The scheme will be implemented for a five-year duration, beginning April 1, 2026, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while briefing media about the Cabinet decision.The CCEA has also decided to revise the norms of Central assistance for meeting expenditure incurred by States and UTs on intra-state movement and handling of foodgrains and FPS dealers’ margin and continuation of the existing funding pattern of central assistance, according to an official statement.The scheme, in the 16th Finance Commission cycle award period, integrates the ongoing schemes of ‘Assistance to State Agencies for intra-State movement of foodgrains and FPS dealers’ margin under NFSA and the ‘Scheme for Modernisation and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System (SMART PDS)’ to comprehensively strengthen implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), the statement said.The scheme will work towards fulfilling the government’s commitment to 81.35 crore persons covered under the NFSA, the statement said.With inputs from PTI Published - May 27, 2026 03:38 pm IST
