Discuss the role of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in the Public Distribution System (PDS) to ensure food security in India. Suggest necessary reforms in the functioning of FCI to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness.

The Food Corporation of India FCI is the nodal agency mandated under the National Food Security Act NFSA 2013 to ensure food security in India. Role of FCI in Public Distribution System PDS to ensure food security: (1) Procurement: FCI is the nodal agency for procuring food grains from farmers at MSP. (2) Transportation and Storage: FCI is responsible for safe storage and transport of food grains in warehouses. (3) Supply to states: FCI supplies food-grains to states at Central issue Price to be supplied to beneficiary via PDS. (4) Digitisation and Reforms:

multitable reform like e-PDS modules, identification of ration shops, Core-Ration and Ration card to improve food delivery and ensure food security. Challenges in FCI functioning: (1) Skewed procurement: Majority procured of mixed and rice (others 96%) and Wheat oil seeds, etc not adopted procured. (2) Required imbalance: Most FCI godowns centralized in both west and states of food grains Project Hansi. (3) Corruption and leakages: India in states of food grains Project Hansi. (4) Regular reports of extravagance and rotting of food grains. (5) Limited storage capacity of FCI. Reforms in FCI's functioning: (1) Diversification of food grains procured to incentivize cultivation of pulses and millet.

Nanotechnology relates to the science and engineering of materials at the nanoscale i.e. 1 to 100 nanometers. Role of nano-technology in enhancing agricultural productivity and food security: (1) Optimising output input: nano-technology can enhance the input efficiency by reducing cost b prevents wastages eg. Nano ewsay liquid by IFFOCE. (2) Nano sensors can be used to monitor crop health and lead to precision farming. (3) Nanotechnology has applications in domain of food fortification to improve nutrition.

b solve malnutrition problem and enhance nutritional security. Recent developments in nanotechnology: (1) Nanotechnology used to develop bitter fertilizers and pesticides. b nano-liquid viruses. (2) Nanotechnology is used in targeted drug delivery b use of gold nano peptide to deliver cancer drug. (3) Nano-materials like quantum dots are being developed. (4) Materials like capsular carbon nanotubes transect, fine inside granuing applications. Potential Benefits of nano seed and fertilizer and pesticides: (1) Improve overall efficiency of input use and reduce wastages. (2) Help in preventing soil degradation which was common due to

Recent developments in nanotechnology: (1) Nanotechnology used to develop better fertilizers and pesticides and nano-liquid sprays. (2) Nanotechnology is used in targeted drug delivery. Use of gold nano-particle to deliver cancer drugs. (3) Nano-materials like quantum dots are being developed. (4) Materials like graphene, carbon nanotube, etc. have promising applications. Potential benefits of nano ores and fertilizers: (1) Improve overall efficiency of input use and reduce wastage. (2) Help in preventing soil degradation which was common due to over use of these inputs. (3) Help address environmental challenge like bioaccumulation. (4) Reduce the overall cost of input and help improve farm income. (5) Enhance agriculture productivity by targeted input delivery. (6) Reduce overall subsidy burden of government B fertilizer subsidy is 80k crore.