The Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) has showcased a series of AI-enabled and digital innovations transforming the Public Distribution System (PDS) at the India-AI Impact Summit and Expo 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The exhibition pavilion onย โAI-Empowered Innovations for Public Distributionโ has been jointly organised by DFPD in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP).
The pavilion was inaugurated by Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution, in the presence of Stefan Priesner, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, and Elisabeth Faure, Country Director and Representative, WFP India, along with senior officials of the Government of India and partner organisations.
Speaking at the Summit, Sanjeev Chopra stated that the Department is transitioning from ensuring transparency in the sector to ensuring greater responsiveness, enabled by the integration of Artificial Intelligence in operations.
He noted that AI interventions have been incorporated across the entire PDS value chain โ from procurement of foodgrains, storage and movement, to distribution and settlement of food subsidy claims raised by States. AI-driven systems are strengthening efficiency, improving accountability, and enabling real-time decision-making.
Among the innovations showcased at the exhibition are:
Grain ATMs, which provide rapid and accurate delivery of foodgrain entitlements to beneficiaries through fully digital and AI-enabled systems.
Smart Warehouse Solutions, equipped with sensor-based technologies to prevent food losses and improve storage efficiency, thereby enhancing food availability and accessibility.
Route Optimisation Function, which streamlines transportation under the PDS, generating operational cost savings and contributing to reductions in carbon emissions through more efficient logistics planning.
