The Union Cabinet has approved the SARTHAK-PDS scheme, a major digital modernisation initiative for India’s Public Distribution System (PDS), with a financial outlay of Rs 24,350 crore over a five-year period. The programme is aimed at improving the efficiency, transparency and operational management of foodgrain distribution under the country’s national food security framework.

According to details shared during a Cabinet briefing on Wednesday, the scheme will run from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031. The SARTHAK-PDS platform is designed to integrate intra-state movement of foodgrains, strengthen tracking systems for dealer margins and improve accessibility for beneficiaries through multilingual digital support across states and union territories.

The government said the initiative will support state agencies involved in the transportation and management of foodgrains while also assisting fair price shops and broader public distribution infrastructure. The platform is expected to enable better coordination across supply chain operations and improve monitoring mechanisms within the food distribution network.

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Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw clarified that SARTHAK-PDS is not intended to replace the existing Public Distribution System. Instead, he described it as a structural reform initiative aimed at enhancing the efficiency and delivery mechanisms of the current system. He said the programme forms part of the Centre’s broader push toward digital governance and technology-led reforms in welfare delivery.

The minister also said the government’s IndiaAI Mission would support the implementation of the modernised distribution framework. According to government estimates, integration of digital systems and improved logistics could reduce foodgrain transportation requirements by 15% to 50%, depending on operational conditions and regional supply patterns.

Officials further stated that the reforms are expected to contribute to environmental gains by lowering carbon emissions linked to foodgrain movement. The government estimates that emissions associated with transportation and logistics operations under the PDS could decline by nearly 35% through route optimisation, digital coordination and streamlined supply chain management under the SARTHAK-PDS initiative.

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