The government launched the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in 1997 to deliver foodgrains to the poor. Originally covering 6 crore people below the poverty line, this initiative has grown under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in 2013 to 80 crore individuals.
Department of Food and Public Distribution
The original allotment under TPDS involved an annual quota of 72 lakh tonnes of food for distribution to the identified families.