New Delhi: In a significant move to modernise India’s foodgrain storage infrastructure, the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has launched a smart warehousing system for foodgrain storage.
The initiative was unveiled at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, and is being described as the world’s largest deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT)-based technologies in public-sector foodgrain warehousing.
The smart warehousing system was inaugurated by Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, in the presence of Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya.
The newly launched smart warehousing system has already been implemented across 215 bag-based foodgrain warehouses operated by the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC).
In addition, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is deploying the technology-driven platform across another 150 warehouses.
The smart warehousing system integrates a range of advanced digital technologies designed to improve efficiency, transparency, and operational monitoring.
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Key features include FASTag and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)-based gate automation, geo-tagged smart locks for intelligent access control, AI-enabled bag counting, face recognition systems, object detection tools, IoT-based environmental monitoring, and AI-powered surveillance for detecting fire, smoke, and rodent activity.
The platform also supports Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) integration, automated record generation, and advanced analytics capabilities to strengthen warehouse management and decision-making processes.
According to the Department, the smart warehousing system is expected to substantially improve operational performance by reducing vehicle turnaround time (TAT), enhancing transparency, strengthening compliance monitoring, improving workforce productivity, enabling early hazard detection, and providing real-time visibility into warehouse operations.
Addressing the gathering, Pralhad Joshi highlighted the Government’s commitment to strengthening India’s food security architecture through technology-enabled reforms.
He stated that the smart warehousing system would promote scientific storage and better preservation of foodgrains, benefiting farmers, warehouse operators, and more than 80 crore beneficiaries covered under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The Minister also emphasized that the Government’s ongoing digitisation initiatives are focused on ensuring that food subsidies reach genuine beneficiaries.
He noted that through various reforms and digital interventions, more than 2.43 crore ineligible ration cards have been identified and removed, thereby improving transparency and enabling targeted delivery of welfare benefits.
Over the past few years, DFPD has introduced several transformative digital initiatives to strengthen the foodgrain management ecosystem.
These include SMART PDS, Anna Chakra, Depot Darpan, ASHA, SCAN, Anna Darpan, and other technology-driven platforms leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to improve procurement, storage, logistics, and distribution systems nationwide.
During the event, the Department felicitated the Best Performing 20 Warehouses of CWC and FCI under the Depot Darpan assessment framework. The recognition highlighted excellence in operational performance and warehouse management standards.
The occasion also witnessed the release of several knowledge and outreach publications.
These included the Practical Guide for Safe Grain Storage at Mandis/Procurement Centres, Pocket Handbook for FPS Dealers, 12 Years of Ensuring Food Security, Anna and Algorithms: Advancing to Next-Gen Governance in the PDS (2024–2026), and the Smart Warehousing Manual, which contains Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for operating IoT-enabled warehouse systems.
The launch of the smart warehousing system marks another major milestone in the Government’s efforts to build a modern, efficient, and technology-driven foodgrain management ecosystem.
The initiative aligns with flagship national programmes such as Digital India, IndiaAI Mission, PM GatiShakti, and Atmanirbhar Bharat, and is expected to play a key role in strengthening India’s long-term food security framework.
