{"id":4308,"date":"2026-10-22T04:11:17","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T04:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/?p=4308"},"modified":"2026-10-27T04:14:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T04:14:28","slug":"one-nation-one-ration-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/one-nation-one-ration-scheme\/","title":{"rendered":"ONE NATION ONE RATION SCHEME"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
\n

SYLLABUS: Social Justice<\/b>
\n<\/b>General Studies \u2013 :\u00a0 II <\/b>Issues relating to poverty and hunger<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

IN NEWS:<\/b> How to break the ration shop monopoly<\/b><\/p>\n

QUESTION: <\/b>Examine the role of the One Nation One Ration Card scheme in addressing the structural limitations of the Public Distribution System in India. (10 Marks, 150 Words)<\/b><\/p>\n

ANSWER: <\/b>The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme, introduced in 2019 under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, enables beneficiaries to access foodgrain <\/span>entitlements from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) across India<\/b>. Beyond ensuring food security for migrants, it seeks to address the structural problems of <\/span>geographical restrictions, dealer monopoly and unequal bargaining power within the PDS.<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Role of ONORC in Addressing Structural Limitations<\/b><\/li>\n
  2. Overcoming geographical restrictions:<\/b> Earlier, ration entitlements were tied to the beneficiary’s registered location. ONORC enables migrant workers to access foodgrains at their destination, reducing vulnerabilities exposed during the COVID-19 lockdown.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Breaking the FPS dealer monopoly: <\/b>Traditionally, beneficiaries depended on a single assigned ration shop, limiting their ability to challenge short-weighing, poor-quality grains or irregular distribution. Portability allows them to switch dealers.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Strengthening beneficiary bargaining power<\/b>: Since FPS dealer commissions depend on the quantity of foodgrains distributed, the possibility of losing beneficiaries creates incentives for better service and accountability.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Empowering vulnerable communities:<\/b> Greater freedom of choice can reduce the dependence of women-headed households, Scheduled Castes and other marginalised groups on individual dealers, strengthening their agency in accessing food entitlements.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Divisibility of entitlements: <\/b>Migrant households can split their monthly foodgrain allocation between family members residing in different locations, ensuring continuity of food security.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    2. Evidence of Structural Transformation: Bihar PDS Study<\/b><\/h3>\n

    An analysis of 891 million PDS transactions in Bihar since April 2022 highlights that ONORC’s benefits <\/span>extend beyond interstate migration.<\/b><\/p>\n