🔆 Public Distribution System (PDS) 📍 Eligibility ✅ Must be an Indian citizen. ✅ Families below the poverty line are eligible for PDS. ✅ Families without a member between ages 15-59. ✅ Families with a disabled member can also avail benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Gramin Yojana. ✅ Casual laborers or those without permanent jobs are eligible. 📍 Benefits ✅ Below Poverty Line (BPL) households receive highly subsidized food grains. ✅ Above Poverty Line (APL) households receive food grains at higher prices. ✅ 35 kg of rice or wheat every month for households below the poverty line. ✅ 15 kg of food grains monthly for eligible BPL households. ✅ Migrant workers can access food grains through ONORC (One Nation One Ration Card) wherever they are working. 📍 History & Overview ✅ The system was established during WWII as a wartime rationing measure. ✅ Relaunched as Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) on June 1, 1997, focusing on assisting the poor. 📍 Ministry & Oversight ✅ The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution oversees PDS implementation. ✅ Central and State Governments share responsibility for the program. ✅ Food Corporation of India (FCI) is responsible for procurement, storage, transportation, and bulk allocation. ✅ State Governments handle the distribution of food through Fair Price Shops (FPS).