The PDS is perhaps the oldest of all the programmes that were designed to ensure food security in India, particularly of the poor. It is perhaps the world’s largest food distribution network having within its fold over 4,35,000 fair price shops, distributing commodities worth more than Rs 15,000 crore annually. The basic objective of the PDS is to ensure that essential commodities are made available to the people at reasonable price, so as to provide them a safety net against inflation.