The food grains procured by the FCI are distributed to the poor people at lesser than market prices through the fair price shops. This is called as the public distribution system. Food grains, sugar, kerosene, cooking oil, and other essential items are distributed through these fair price shops. The government has taken steps to open fair price shops in all villages, towns, and cities. There are around 5 lakh fair price depots in India today, and around 16 crore families are benefitting from them. The poor families are provided BPL (Below *** Line) ration cards which entitles them to a higher quantity of grains at a very low price or sometimes at free of cost.
