In a major achievement for India digital public welfare delivery, the SMART Public Distribution System (SMART PDS), developed and managed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), has successfully completed a record-breaking foodgrain distribution campaign across 29 states.
Amid preparations for the monsoon season, the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) launched an ambitious initiative to distribute three months’ worth of foodgrains in a single month. The accelerated drive aimed to ensure uninterrupted supply during the rains, testing the strength and scalability of the SMART PDS platform.
System Scales Up to Meet Threefold Demand
Despite facing a threefold increase in load—particularly in allocation and Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS)-based transactions—the SMART PDS system performed robustly. Powered by real-time allocation, biometric authentication, and transparent delivery, the platform successfully handled the intensified demand, ensuring timely delivery of rations to millions.
Assam Leads with Historic Transaction Record
Leading the pack, Assam logged over 35 lakh EPOS transactions in a single day—the highest ever recorded in any nationwide PDS project. This milestone showcases the strength of a unified, tech-driven, and citizen-centric distribution mechanism.
Nationwide Participation and Impact
States across the country participated in this mega-drive, reflecting the widespread readiness of SMART PDS infrastructure:
S.No State Total Cards Cards Drawn Total Transactions
1. Andhra Pradesh 1.46 Cr 68.7 L 69.8 L
2.Telangana 91.8 L 9.5 L 32.9 L
3.Madhya Pradesh 1.29 Cr 51 K 1.45 L
4.Maharashtra 1.73 Cr 29 K 56 K
5.Chhattisgarh 81 L 73.8 K 3.58 L
6.Goa 2.6 L 8.4 K 8.5 K
7.Delhi 17.4 L 2.92 L 2.93 L
8.Tripura 9.8 L 49.7 K 72.5 K
9.Sikkim 1.3 L 4.5 K 11.3 K
10.Assam 70.3 L 31.7 L 88.8 L
11.J&K 24.7 L 2.39 L 3.91 L
Empowering Citizens with ONORC
Under the "One Nation One Ration Card" (ONORC) scheme, SMART PDS ensures portability—allowing beneficiaries to draw rations from any location nationwide. The system’s emphasis on delivering the right quantity, to the right person, at the right time is now more relevant than ever.
A Scalable, Citizen-Focused Solution
The success of this high-stakes drive highlights the resilience, responsiveness, and maturity of the SMART PDS platform. More importantly, it reflects the dedication of the NIC teams and ground-level partners who made this achievement possible.
With this milestone, SMART PDS has not just delivered food—it has delivered trust.
