What is the primary purpose of 'Anna Chakra'?

Anna Chakra' is designed to optimise the supply chain of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in India, ensuring timely and efficient delivery of food grains to beneficiaries while reducing operational costs and environmental impact.

How does 'Anna Chakra' achieve cost savings?

By employing advanced algorithms to determine optimal transportation routes, 'Anna Chakra' reduces fuel consumption and logistics expenses, leading to estimated annual savings of about ₹250 crore.

Which organisations collaborated on developing 'Anna Chakra'?

The tool was developed collaboratively by the Department of Food and Public Distribution, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) at IIT-Delhi.

How does 'Anna Chakra' contribute to environmental sustainability?

By optimising delivery routes, the tool decreases transportation distances, thereby reducing fuel usage and lowering carbon emissions associated with the distribution of food grains.

What is the scope of 'Anna Chakra's implementation?

The tool has been assessed across 30 states, encompassing approximately 4.37 lakh Fair Price Shops and around 6,700 warehouses, aiming to enhance the efficiency of the PDS supply chain nationwide.

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‘Anna Chakra’ Launched: Revolutionising PDS Supply Chains To Save Rs 250 Crore Annually

Komal Bajpai

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Updated: 28-01-2025 at 7:25 AM

‘Anna Chakra’ Launched: Revolutionising PDS Supply Chains To Save Rs 250 Crore Annually

Reflecting progress towards a sophisticated national logistics chain that aims to support India’s food insecurity initiative, the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs unveiled the ‘Anna Chakra on Thursday. This tool was designed with inputs from the World Food Programme and IIT-Delhi and is expected to help with the supply chain management of the food grains under the PDS. It can save Rs 250 crore every year and shortens transport distances and emissions for 80 crore people who depend on subsidised food.

What Is The ‘Anna Chakra’ Scheme?

‘Anna Chakra,’ as stated above, is an advanced tool developed for modifying/choosing the channels for the transportation of food grains in India’s logistics channels.

Purpose:

Enhances route plans from FCI godowns to ration shops.
Focused on the efficiency increase and cost reduction in the PDS supply chain.

Development:

A joint project of the Food Ministry, World Food Programme and IIT-Delhi.

Impact:

It currently links up with 4,40,000 FPS and 6,700 warehouses across the country.

Where And How Does ‘Anna Chakra’ Save Costs?

The plan achieves this by utilising algorithms to minimise transportation distances and hence costs.

Cost Savings: Proposed transportation cost saving approximately Rs. 250 crores per year.
Route Optimisation: In the pilot studies that included 30 states, distances travelled were scaled down by 15–50%.

What Is Good For The Environment?

In so doing, and specifically concerning optimising routes, the initiative embraces and creates a smaller carbon footprint.

Reduced Emissions: Simplification of chain logistics reduces fuel and emissions.
Eco-Friendly Initiative: It helps to sustain the environment while it improves efficiency.

What Is The Purpose Of The SCAN Portal?

The SCAN portal enhances and automates the management of claims for food subsidies by states.

Features: A subsidy claim means a single unified programme of accessing subsidy and submitting as well as processing of the claims.
Benefits: This keeps the workflow fully automated from start to end and enables quick disposal of claims.

What New Changes Does This Initiative Bring To PDS Logistics?

The initiative also transforms some of the revealed archaic practices in the supply chain indicating enhanced efficiency and accountability.

Modern Practices: Succeeds in replacing dated supply logistic networks with better versions of the same.
Future Plans: The second phase will be optimisation from mandis to FCI godowns and FPS.

Conclusion

This, ‘Anna Chakra’ is a new paradigm for India’s food security programme – and efficiency, cost and environmental advantage. By improving the Chain of Supply of PDS and incorporating advanced technologies like the SCAN portal, the government assures better delivery services touching the lives of millions of citizens.

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