India’s journey towards food security has been shaped by two defining milestones: The Green Revolution and the establishment of the Food Corporation of India (FCI). While the Green Revolution significantly enhanced agricultural output, particularly of staple crops such as wheat and rice, it was the creation of FCI in 1964 through an Act of Parliament that ensured this productivity translated into long-term national food security. As Sudeep Singh, Former Director, FCI, explains, the organization was envisioned not merely as a procurement agency, but as the backbone of a sustainable Public Distribution System (PDS) capable of serving a vast and diverse population.
More than six decades later, the scale of FCI’s operations reflects this founding vision. Today, wheat and fortified rice are supplied free of cost to over 81 crore beneficiaries, more than the combined population of the European Union and the United States. According to Sudeep Singh, Former ED of FCI, managing food security at this magnitude is a formidable responsibility with no global parallel.
“Functioning under the Department of Food & Public Distribution, Government of India, FCI operates one of the world’s largest food supply chains in partnership with private entrepreneurs. The organisation manages close to 900 lakh metric tonnes of storage capacity and distributes nearly 600 lakh metric tonnes of food grains annually. This translates into the movement of roughly 40 lakh truckloads or about 20,000 railway rakes every year, underscoring the sheer logistical scale involved in feeding the nation,” explains Mr. Sudeep Singh.
India’s resilience during periods of crisis highlights the strength of this system. Over the past six decades, the country has faced extreme weather events, geopolitical disruptions to global food supply chains, and the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, India did not witness a shortage of staple food, an outcome that would have had severe consequences for a country of such size and population density.
Beyond procurement and distribution, FCI plays a critical role in stabilising food prices. By releasing food grains in the open market at appropriate times, it helps check inflation and protects consumers from sudden price shocks. This intervention explains why rice prices have remained relatively stable in public memory, unlike pulses, edible oils, or vegetables, which often experience sharp fluctuations. Since 2020, FCI has sold more than 260 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and more than 80 lakh metric tonnes of rice in the open market to moderate inflationary pressures.
Safeguarding food grains carries a deep emotional and socio-cultural significance, as loss or damage to food stocks directly affects public confidence. To address this, FCI has progressively strengthened its physical infrastructure and operational practices. Traditional cover-and-plinth storage, which accounted for over 30 lakh metric tonnes in 2014, has been systematically reduced and replaced with scientifically managed godowns and modern steel silos. At present, more than 30 lakh metric tonnes of storage capacity is operational in steel silos, with an additional 40 lakh metric tonnes under various stages of development, according to the data of PIB. These facilities significantly reduce weather-related risks and ensure longer preservation of grain quality.
Mechanised handling at depots has also become mandatory under handling and transport contracts. This shift has reduced spillage, minimised handling losses, improved worker safety, and enhanced overall operational discipline. The movement of food grains increasingly relies on rail transport for long-distance evacuation from surplus regions to deficit areas, enabling the timely replenishment of buffer stocks across the country.
Stringent inspection and quality assurance mechanisms operate at every stage, from procurement to storage and final distribution. Contrary to popular perception, the vast scale of operations has not resulted in excessive wastage. Over the past five years, average damage to food grains has been limited to just 0.016 percent, while operational losses have remained minimal benchmarks comparable with efficient global supply chain organisations.
Further improvements in physical security during transit have strengthened outcomes. The introduction of tamper-proof, high-security seals for railway rakes and tighter accountability during transportation have sharply reduced transit losses. As a result, net storage losses for wheat and rice have shifted from a loss of 0.17 percent in 2013-14 to a net gain of 0.22 percent by 2023-24.
As Mr. Sudeep Singh, Former Executive Director, reflects, “The Food Corporation of India stands at a pivotal moment in its evolution. From an organisation once centred primarily on procurement and storage, it has matured into a disciplined, service-oriented institution focused on efficiency, resilience, and accountability.” Its mission remains unwavering: ensuring quality food grains for over 81 crore Indians, a responsibility that is not only statutory, but a profound national duty.
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