New Delhi: The government on Thursday launched ‘Anna Chakra’ and the Subsidy Claim Application for the National Food Security Act (SCAN) portal, modernizing the public distribution system and streamlining subsidy claim processes.

The twin initiatives aim to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs and ensure the timely delivery of essential commodities to beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act. Covering more than 437,000 fair price shops and about 6,700 warehouses, the initiative is projected to save ₹250 crore annually through optimized logistics routes, said Pralhad Joshi, Union minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution.

As per the minister, the Anna Chakra ‘public distribution system supply chain optimization tool’ was developed by the Department of Food and Public Distribution in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D). The tool uses advanced algorithms to streamline the movement of food grains across the supply chain.

The tool aims to reduce fuel consumption and transportation costs, thereby lowering carbon emissions and contributing to environmental sustainability. It enhances the efficiency of the logistics network for food security programme, which serves 810 million beneficiaries.

Route optimization has been carried out across 30 states, showing significant potential with an estimated annual cost saving of around ₹250 crore. The initiative has reduced the quantity in quintal multiplied by distance in kilometres (QKM), the key metric of this exercise, by 580 million units.

The interstate route optimization tool streamlines PDS movement between states by integrating with the Railways’ Freight Operations Information System through the Unified Logistics Interface Platform and the PM Gati Shakti platform.

Meanwhile, through the SCAN portal, states can submit subsidy claims in one place, enabling the Department of Food and Public Distribution to quickly review and approve them. The portal will automate the entire process, ensuring faster release and settlement of food subsidies.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), beneficiaries receive 5kg of wheat or rice for free every month. The scheme, launched in March 2020 to help during the covid-19 pandemic, has been extended for another five years starting from 1 January 2024.

Under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) scheme, households are entitled to 35kg of grains per month from the PDS, irrespective of family size, at ₹3 per kg for rice and ₹2 per kg for wheat.

A decline in rice quality across East Asia has been attributed to climate warming, according to a study published in Geophysical Research Letters. The research, led by Dr Xianfeng Liu of Shaanxi Normal University in China, highlights the vulnerability of rice—a dietary staple for billions—to rising temperatures. Using 35 years of data from Japan and China, the team analysed how various climate factors affect the “head rice rate” (HRR), a critical measure of rice quality based on the proportion of intact grains after milling.

Key Climate Factors Impacting Rice Quality

The study identified warmer nighttime temperatures as the primary driver behind reduced rice quality, as per reports. For Japan, HRR began declining at night temperatures exceeding 12 degrees Celsius, while for China, the threshold was 18 degrees celsius. Elevated nighttime temperatures during flowering and grain development phases were found to hinder photosynthesis and starch accumulation, causing more grains to break during processing.

Reportedly, solar radiation emerged as the second most significant factor, with higher radiation levels linked to reduced HRR. Other contributing factors included reduced precipitation and increased daytime vapor pressure deficit, with HRR declining when the latter exceeded 0.5–1 kPa.

Projected Declines in Rice Quality

As per multiple reports, projections under moderate and high greenhouse gas emissions scenarios suggest that rice quality will continue to deteriorate. Between 2020 and 2100, HRR is expected to decline by up to 1.5 percent in Japan and 5 percent in China, with the impact intensifying after 2050 under higher emissions. Southern regions in both countries, closer to the equator and more vulnerable to rising nighttime temperatures, face the greatest challenges.

Implications for Food Security

The findings raise concerns over the adaptability of rice cultivars to climate change. Southern provinces in China, the nation’s primary rice-growing regions, may struggle to mitigate these impacts, posing risks to food security, human nutrition, and economic stability. The study underscores the urgent need for climate-resilient agricultural practices and crop varieties to safeguard global rice supplies.