Published Paper Details:

Human beings have unlimited wants. These wants are categoriesed into three parts, namely: Necessities, Comforts and Luxuries. Out of these three, necessities constitutes the most indispensable, inevitable requirements of human being, without which, survival itself is not possible. Out of necessities, Food occupies a pivotal place. 2011, census data of India, reveals the fact, that a whopping 22% of the total population living below poverty line, who cannot afford to purchase the essential food grains in the open market, by paying the existing market price. Their condition is sure to go from bad to worse, as they lack necessary purchasing capacity. Government has an important role to play to protect these vulnerable section of the society. To safeguard life and opportunity and to supply few essential commodities to such general mass, at a highly subsidized rate, Public Distribution System or Ration Shop system was evolved. According to this system, government maintains fair price shops and certain essential commodities like Rice, Wheat, Sugar, Kerosene, Edible Oil, Pulses, Salt etc. are distributed at a highly subsidized prices to general masses. Roots of this Public Distribution System could be traced back to after the Bengal famine of 1943.