-Livemint.com Odisha, MP among those saying the move may compromise food security in some of the nation's poorest parts New Delhi: Plans by the centre to initiate cash transfers to poor households under the public distribution system (PDS) may run into trouble, with some states-notably Odisha and Madhya Pradesh-raising objections on the grounds that such a move may compromise food security in some of the poorest parts of the country. The states'...

-Hindustan Times The government's fiscal management plan in the budget could see a roadmap on extending the controversial cash transfer schemes from just entitlements to subsidies, a move that could add fuel to the already surcharged atmosphere over the land acquisition bill. The finance ministry has issued instructions to bring all Central schemes having a financial component under the direct benefit transfer (DBT) from April, apparently to plug leakages and to keep...

-Livemint.com cash transfer of PDS benefits would mean limiting MSP operations New Delhi: Undeterred by the humiliating defeat inflicted on it by the populist Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Delhi state assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP-led) government is pressing ahead with efforts to reduce its bill on food subsidies. Please click here to read more. ...

-Business Standard The Union government has remained equivocal in public about the Shanta Kumar report and whether the National Democratic Alliance intends to follow up and change the National Food Security Act. But at least on one count it has moved fast to implement the report - converting the subsidised food supply into cash transfers under the Direct Benefits Transfer Scheme. The food ministry has written to the Union Territories to...

Following the recommendations of the Shanta Kumar Committee report on restructuring of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), there are signs that the Central Government is in a hurry to replace the Public Distribution System (PDS) with cash transfers. The Government's intention has been revealed in two official letters (one dated 10 February 2015 and another dated 11 February 2015) that were sent from the Joint Secretary at Department of...