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Cited by 80Agricultural Economics and PracticesIndian Economic and Social DevelopmentSocial and Economic Development in India

Food policy and politics: The political economy of the public distribution system in India

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Mooij, Jos·1998·The Journal of Peasant Studies
DOI 10.1080/03066159808438667
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Abstract

This article discusses the history and political economy of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in India. This food distribution programme, which dates from 1939, is meant to increase food security both at the national and the household level. Since its emergence, it has passed through several phases, the latest one starting in 1991 when India introduced a Structural Adjustment Programme. From a social constructivist perspective, this article aims at understanding (a) the most important features of this system in the various phases of its history, (b) the social processes that led to the emergence and subsequent development of distribution policy and (c) the various functions PDS has served in the course of its history. It concludes that in the most recent era, there are two contradictory tendencies (one coming from economic rationalisation, the other from populist politics) which push and pull the PDS in different directions. The latter tendency is so strong that a drastic curtailment of the food distribution programme is unlikely, despite the pleas made by those favouring cutting down subsidies and reducing the responsibility of the state.

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Crossref · 10.1080/03066159808438667

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  • In 1965 the food security system took the shape of the PDS under the management of the newly established FCI.

    “In 1965 the food security system took the shape of the PDS under the management of the newly established FCI.”

    From Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution System (2020) · cites this paper as Mooij 1998

    The paper’s “Emergence of PDS, 1939–1965” passage says the FCI was established in 1965 and that the PDS stood on a firm footing by then, after evolving since 1939. “Food policy 1965–1990” says the FCI handled PDS foodgrains, but does not establish that it managed the entire PDS. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The establishment of FCI gave rise to the universal PDS, a shape that the program maintained until the early 1990s.

    “The establishment of FCI gave rise to the universal PDS, a shape that the program maintained until the early 1990s.”

    From Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution System (2020) · cites this paper as Mooij 1998

    The section on 1965–1990 describes the PDS as basically universalist, supporting that part of the claim. But the paper says the PDS emerged between 1939 and 1965 and was already established when the FCI was created in 1965; it does not say the FCI gave rise to it. The section on policy after 1991 also says exclusionary targeting had still not been introduced by 1996, so universality did not simply end in the early 1990s. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Despite the universality of PDS at the central level, some states elaborated pro-poor schemes designed specifically for vulnerable groups, for example, in Karnataka's Green Card Scheme, 40 percent of the population was entitled to higher subsidies.

    “For example, in the Green Card Scheme implemented in the 1980s in Karnataka, 40 percent of the population was entitled to a “Green Card” which gave them the right to higher subsidies from the PDS (Mooij 1998:87–8).”

    From Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution System (2020) · cites this paper as Mooij 1998:87–8

    Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

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  • The historical development of the PDS can be articulated in three phases: 1939-1965 emergence, 1965-1990 universal under FCI, 1991 onward targeted.

    “Mooij (1998) articulates the historical development of the PDS in three phases. In the first phase (1939-1965) the original traits of the food distribution program emerged, while in the second (1965-1990) the scheme operated under a universal form coordinated by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). In the third phase, beginning with the Structural Adjustment Programme of 1991, the PDS became a t”

    From Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution System (2020) · cites this paper as Mooij 1998

    Mooij divides the history into 1939–1965, 1965–1990, and a phase beginning with the 1991 Structural Adjustment Programme (introduction and section 3). Section 2 describes the PDS as basically universalist and reports FCI’s role. But section 3 says targeting that excluded particular groups had not been implemented; it describes a trend toward targeting without excluding others, not a straightforward shift to a targeted PDS. (LLM, conf=0.90)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • From 1965 to 1990 the amount of foodgrains traded by the FCI increased from 10 to more than 18 million tons, and the number of ration shops in the nation grew to over 350 thousand.

    “From 1965 to 1990 the amount of foodgrains traded by the FCI increased from 10 to more than 18 million tons, and the number of ration shops in the nation grew to over 350 thousand (Mooij 1998:86).”

    From Biometric Infrastructures and the Indian Public Distribution System (2020) · cites this paper as Mooij 1998:86

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Cites

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1 of the 29 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 13

  1. source: unless otherwise indicated: Bulletin of Food Statistics; Directory of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, GoI (various issues) a) source: Gopalan (1995:figure 1)
  2. Bapna, S.L. (1990) "Food security through PDS: the Indian Experience". In: D.S. Tyagi and Vijay Shankar Vyas (eds.) Increasing access to food. The Asian experience. Sage Publications, New Delhi etc., pp. 99-144
  3. Basu, Kaushik (1993) "Structural reform in India, 1991-93. Experience and agenda". Economic and Political Weekly, November 27, pp. 2599-2605
  4. Byres, T.J. and B. Crow, with Mae Wan Ho (1983) The Green Revolution in India. Case study 5. The Open University Press, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes
  5. De Janvry, Alain (1983) "Why do governments do what they do? The case of food price policy". In: D. Gale Johnson and G.E. Schuh (eds.) The role of markets in the world food economy. Westview special studies in agricultural science and policy. Westview Press, Boulder Colorado, pp. 185-212
  6. Dev, S. Mahendra and M.H. Suryanarayana (1991) "Is PDS urban biased and pro-rich: an evaluation". Economic and Political Weekly, 26, No. 4, pp. 2357- 2366
  7. EPW Research Foundation (1995) "Finances of Government of India". Economic and Political Weekly, 30, No. 18-19, pp. 1125-1132
  8. Frankel, Francine (1978) India's political economy. The gradual revolution. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.
  9. Oommen, T.K. (1975) "Agrarian legislation and movements as sources of change. The case of Kerala". Economic and Political Weekly, 10, No. 40, pp. 1571-1584
  10. Patnaik, Prabhat and C.P. Chandrasekhar (1995) "Indian economy under 'Structural Adjustment'". Economic and Political Weekly, 30, No. 47, pp. 3001- 3013
  11. Patnaik, Utsa (1997) "Political economy of state intervention in food economy". Economic and Political Weekly, 32, No. 20 and 21, pp. 1105-1112
  12. Sen, Amartya (1981) Poverty and famines. An essay on entitlement and deprivation. Clarendon Press, Oxford
  13. Srinivas, M.N. and M.N. Panini (1984) "Politics and society in Karnataka". Economic and Political Weekly, 19, No. 2, pp. 69-75

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Authors
Mooij, J.
Corresponding author
Mooij, Jos
Venue
The Journal of Peasant Studies
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
1998-01
Volume
25
Issue
2
Pages
77-101
ISSN
  • 0306-6150 (ISSN-L)
  • 1743-9361
DOI
10.1080/03066159808438667
OpenAlex
W2078331984
Cited by
79
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
10.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
other-oa
Locations
  • The Journal of Peasant Studies (publishedVersion)
  • RePub (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • RePub (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion)
  • ISS Staff Group 2: States, Societies and World Development
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agricultural Economics and Practices
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Indian Economic and Social Development
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Economic Development in India
Keywords
public distribution system, food security, political economy of food, structural adjustment, populist politics, food subsidies, state responsibility, social constructivism, India

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