New Delhi

The Centre is set to widen the use of QR code-based tracking on foodgrain bags handled by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), extending the initiative to Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha during the current marketing season.

The expanded programme will cover nearly 20 lakh tonnes of rice transported from milling units to distribution centres, with the objective of improving traceability and preventing the reuse or diversion of grain bags within the public distribution network.

A senior Food Ministry official said the decision follows encouraging results from pilot projects conducted in Andhra Pradesh for rice during December 2025-January 2026 and in Punjab for wheat during April-May this year.

Under the new phase, around 10 lakh tonnes of rice from Andhra Pradesh and 5 lakh tonnes each from Telangana and Odisha will be tagged with QR codes. The initiative will initially be implemented in selected districts of the three states.

The QR-based system enables authorities to identify the origin of each grain bag, including the procurement centre, procuring agency and the season in which the grain was purchased. Officials can scan the codes at warehouses as well as during distribution through fair-price shops.

According to ministry officials, the technology provides end-to-end visibility of grain movement and helps verify the authenticity of stocks at various stages of the supply chain.

The government is also testing the integration of QR code scanning with electronic point-of-sale (ePoS) devices used at ration shops. This would allow authorities to determine the exact stock being distributed and create a digital record of transactions.

Officials believe that linking QR-tagged bags with ePoS systems could eventually facilitate automatic bill generation and improve the efficiency of subsidy-related processes.

At present, food subsidies are calculated at the distribution stage. With digital tracking, authorities expect to gain more accurate information about the movement and distribution of foodgrains, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability.

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The initiative is part of broader efforts to modernise the Public Distribution System (PDS) and ensure that foodgrains supplied through government welfare programmes can be monitored throughout their journey—from procurement and storage to final delivery to beneficiaries.