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India’s Public Distribution System (PDS) is the largest distribution network of its kind in the world. PDS was introduced around World War II as a war-time rationing measure. The Public Distribution System (PDS), till 1992, was a general entitlement scheme for all consumers without any specific target. The Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS) was launched in June 1992. Subsequently, in 1997, the government launched the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), with a focus on the poor. TPDS aims to provide subsidized food and fuel to the poor through a network of ration shops. Food grains, such as rice and wheat that are provided under TPDS are procured from farmers, allocated to states and delivered to the ration shop, where the beneficiary buys his entitlement.  • In September 2013, Parliament enacted the National Food Security Act, 2013. The Act relies largely on the existing TPDS to deliver food grains as legal entitlements to poor households. This marks a shift by mak...

The government schemes are carried out for the welfare of the vulnerable sections. The vulnerable sections include SC, ST, OBCs, backward classes, women, senior citizens, children, Divyang, third gender, minorities. The welfare includes the overall human, social, political, economic development of these sections with a view to achieve dignity and liberty of individuals by enhancing choices and offering avenues of growth.  There are several stages of policy process, where non involvement and lack of awareness leads to inefficient and ineffective performance:  • Identification of the problem - At the time of identification the people for whom the scheme is carried out do not know about the scheme. The people are required to be involved in the policy-making process so that their valuable inputs can enhance the process. • Formulation – While policy formulation takes place, it is really important to involve people. If the people are not aware then that might affect the targeti...

India is among those countries which spend least on social sector services, such as health and education. The government spends only 2.3 % of GDP on health which is far before from the world’s average of 10.02%. Whereas in education sector, it is 3.4% against the world’s average of 4.815%.  This endangers India’s prospects which currently has the world’s largest young population to reap its demographic dividend by human capital formation. This further has led Indian society to divert its resources from food items to non-food items. Reasons behind divergence in relationship between Poverty and Hunger  • India is currently in the third stage of demographic transition with average life expectancy of 68.5 years. Life expectancy increased 61 years in 2001 to 67 years in 2011 and further to 68.5 years in 2019. Further, neonatal mortality, under five mortality and maternal mortality has also decreased considerably which indicates that citizens have considerably spent on health. ...