In a major step towards modernising India's foodgrain storage ecosystem, the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, today launched the Smart Warehousing System for foodgrain storage at a ceremony held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The system represents the world's largest deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) based technologies in public sector foodgrain warehousing.

The Smart Warehousing System was inaugurated by Shri Pralhad Joshi, Hon'ble Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy, in the presence of Smt. Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, Hon'ble Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

This initiative has been implemented across 215 bag-based foodgrain warehouses of the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), while the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is deploying the system in an additional 150 warehouses.

The Smart Warehousing System integrates advanced technologies such as FASTag and ANPR-based gate automation, intelligent access control through geo-tagged smart locks, AI-enabled bag counting, face recognition systems, object detection, IoT-based monitoring of environmental parameters, and AI-powered surveillance for fire, smoke and rodent detection. This platform also supports ERP integration, automated record generation and advanced analytics for warehouse operations.

This technology-driven system is expected to significantly improve operational efficiency by reducing vehicle turnaround time (TAT), enhancing transparency, strengthening compliance monitoring, improving manpower productivity, enabling early hazard detection and providing real-time visibility of warehouse operations.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Pralhad Joshi, Honorable minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, highlighted that the Government is committed to strengthening India's food security architecture through technology-enabled reforms. He stated that the Smart Warehousing System will ensure scientific storage and better preservation of foodgrains, benefitting farmers, warehouse operators and over 80 crore beneficiaries covered under the Public Distribution System (PDS).

The Minister also underlined that the Government's digitisation initiatives are aimed at ensuring that food subsidies reach genuine beneficiaries. Through various reforms and digital interventions, over 2.43 crore ineligible ration cards have been identified and removed, thereby improving transparency and ensuring targeted delivery of benefits.

Over the past few years, DFPD has introduced several transformative digital initiatives, including SMART PDS, Anna Chakra, Depot Darpan, ASHA, SCAN, Anna Darpan and other technology-driven platforms that have leveraged AI and ML to strengthen procurement, storage, logistics and foodgrain distribution systems across the country.

During the event, the Department felicitated the Best Performing 20 Warehouses of CWC and FCI identified under the Depot Darpan assessment framework.

The occasion also witnessed the unveiling of several knowledge and outreach publications, including "Practical Guide for Safe Grain Storage at Mandis/Procurement Centres", "Pocket Handbook for FPS Dealers", "12 Years of Ensuring Food Security", "Anna and Algorithms: Advancing to Next-Gen Governance in the PDS (2024–2026)", and the Smart Warehousing Manual containing Standard Operating Procedures for operation of IoT-enabled systems.

The launch of the Smart Warehousing System marks another significant milestone in the Government's efforts to build a modern, efficient and technology-driven foodgrain management ecosystem. The initiative aligns with the national vision of Digital India, IndiaAI Mission, PM GatiShakti and Atmanirbhar Bharat, and is expected to contribute significantly towards strengthening long-term food security in the country.

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IA/RP