The Delhi government is set to implement new food security rules, focusing on quota and eligibility, to reform the food distribution system. The Delhi Food Security Rules, 2025, will allocate ration cards based on district quotas determined by population. A senior government official stated that the existing census data would initially guide the quota allocation.
The primary aim of these reforms is to ensure fair beneficiary identification, prioritize those most in need, and enhance overall accountability in the system. In line with the new rules, the government will verify existing ration cardholders to eliminate ineligible recipients and ensure that benefits reach genuinely needy beneficiaries. This initiative received approval during a review meeting led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
Several key changes are being introduced to improve the system. District-level committees will be established to prioritize the poorest residents. Additionally, the annual household income limit for eligibility has been increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.2 lakh. To address potential issues, a multi-layered grievance redressal system will be implemented at various levels.
Currently, the distribution of ration in Delhi occurs through e-PoS (Point of Sale) devices, which use biometric (Aadhaar) authentication of beneficiaries. Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population are covered, including those under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and priority households. AAY households, the poorest of the poor, are entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains per family per month, while priority households receive 5 kg per person per month. The Delhi government’s Department of Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs, established in 1962, manages the public distribution of essential commodities to ensure equitable distribution at fair prices.
The Delhi government has been actively working to provide food security to its residents, with 1,742,894 families and 7,277,995 members covered as of October 2025. The city has 1,958 Fair Price Shops (FPS) to distribute food grains, managed by 9 district offices and 70 circle offices, along with 8 PDS godowns. For January 2026, the allocation includes 296,474 quintals of wheat, 74,118 quintals of rice, and 654 quintals of sugar.
The National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, aims to provide subsidized food grains to eligible households. The Act also promotes reforms in the TPDS (Targeted Public Distribution System), including direct benefit transfers, to reduce the physical movement of food grains, provide beneficiaries with greater autonomy, enhance dietary diversity, reduce leakages, improve targeting, and promote financial inclusion.
