General Studies (Paper - 3) : Model Question & Answers

Question: What are the major reforms needed in Food Corporation of India to ensure food security goal for India? Do the recommendations of the Shanta Kumar Committee take us in that direction?

Answer: (1) FCI largely procures grain from already developed states like Punjab & Haryana. Need to be changed. Decentralized procurement will encourage both production and storage capability of the states. e.g. Chattisgarh, MP etc.

(2) Storage infrastructure needs to be improved. Better godowns. Better technology to store grains, better practices to reduce wastage from rains etc.

(3) Leakages in food grains distribution to be reduced as most leakages in PDS takes place in initial stages.

Shanta Kumar Committee justified in many areas.

(1) It favours restricting FCI procurement role in backward states like Bihar, Assam, Eastern UP etc. which are also potential 2nd Green Revolution states. decentralized procurement for others

(2) Talks at length about improvement in Storage infrastructure (see report highlights)

(3) Also, talks about reforming FCI’s administrative structure to improve its efficiency. But the committee largely believes that PDS is inefficient due to leakages and should be replaced by cash transfers. Debatable issue. Any view point can be taken.