In order to ensure availability of minimum quantity of foodgrains to the families living below the poverty line, the Government launched the TPDS in June 1997. It was intended to benefit about six crore poor families in the country for whom a quantum of 72 lakh tonnes of foodgrains was earmarked annually at the rate of 10 kg per family per month.
The allocation was increased from 10 kg to 20 kg from 1 April 2000. This was increased from 20 to 25 kg per family per month from July 2001. From 1 April 2002, this allocation has been further increased from 25 to 35 kg per family per month. The Central Issue Price (CIP) for BPL families is Rs 4.15 per kg for wheat and Rs 5.65 per kg for rice. This is about 45 per cent of the economic cost of the Food Corporation of India. The increased level of allocation of foodgrains for 6.52 crore BPL families is 195.6 lakh tonnes per annum. During 2002-03, 343.14 lakh tonnes of rice and 369.18 lakh tonnes of wheat have been allotted under TPDS (Antyodaya, BPL and APL). A quantity of 119.65 lakh tonnes of rice and 105.63 lakh tonnes of wheat were lifted against this allocation.
URL: http://india.gov.in/sectors/fpd2.php