(a) The PDS has proved to be the most effective instrument of government policy over the years in stabilishing prices and making food available to consumers at affordable prices.
(b)It has been instrumental in averting widespread hunger and famine by supplying food from surplus regions of the country to the deficit ones.
(c) In addition, the prices have been under revision in favour of poor households in general
(d) The system, including the minimum support price and procurement, has contributed to an increase in food grain production and provided income security to farmers in certain regions.

(i) In the year, 2012-13, government foodgrain stock was maximum at 80.5 million tonnes .
(ii) The minimum buffer stock norm for FCI was 33 million tonnes as on July 2012.
(iii) The FCI granaries were overflowing with foodgrains because of good agricultural production in year 2012.

MSP means Minimum Support Price. It is a minimum guaranteed price announced by the government for the agriculture produce.
There are many benefits of MSP which are as follows:
1. The farmers does not shy away in producing a particular crop as he knows that even if the 'market price' falls, he will get MSP from the government.
2. Since the inception of MSP, many farmers are happy and hence have increased their production.
3. With increase in production, the country has surplus foodgrain in its buffer stock.
4. MSP is revised by the government at the start of each season keeping in consideration about the demand, supply, and other relevant factors.
5. At present, there are 25 crops for which government announces MSP at the start of each season

Famine is situated where deaths occur in large numbers on account of starvation due to widespread scarcity of food due to natural calamity or disaster
1. In this type of situation, there is huge shortage of food its prices rise to the extent that poor people are not able to buy the same as a result they die of hunger
2. The most devastating famine that occurred in India was the famine of Bengal in 1943. This famine killed thirty lakh people in the province of Bengal.
3. Nothing like the Bengal Famine has happened in Indian again. But it is disturbing to note that even today, there are places like Kashipur in Odisha where famine-like conditions have been reported 
4. Starvation deaths are also reported in Baran district of Rajasthan, Palamau district of Jharkhand and many other remote areas during the recent years.

1. We have seen thousand people of dying of starvation due to famine or non-availability of food. To make sure that no such deaths occur in future Food Security Act has been passed and followed
2. This is to ensure that even the poorest of the poor person living anywhere in the country, may be of any caste, cread, religion or sex gets two square pf meals daily of good nutritional value.
The following dimensions have been covered  by food security
1. Availabity : This means that there is enough food available in the country for its people whether it is produced in the country itself or imported from other countries.
2. Accessibility : This means that the food is easily available to each and every single person in the country
3. Affordability : This means that a person has enough money to purchase sufficient food which has nutritional value. In cases where poor and very poor are unable to purchase  then it is the duty of the government to make available such food to these people at highly subsided rates.

The Government of India has carefully designed food security system which is basically composed of two basic components.
(i) Buffer stock
(ii) Public distribution system
In addition to these, various poverty alleviation programmes have also been introduced.Some of these programmes are:
(a) Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
(b) Food for work (FFW)
(c) Mid-day meals
(d) Antyodaya, AAY and APS

The states of Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh are the most food insecure states of the country

Important features of Public Distribution System in India are as below:

Besides the government which is committed to the food security in the country, different cooperative societies also play a vital role in providing low priced goods to the people.
Many cooperatives like Mother Dairy in Delhi provides milk, vegetables and fruits in Delhi and NCR at subsidised rates.
(i) Various other societies like Kendriya Bhandar, Super Bazar also provide goods at rates below the market price to the general public.
(ii) An initiative was taken by Academy of Development Science (ADS) in setting up grain banks throughout the state of Maharashtra has been well applauded

Besides the government which is committed to the food security in the country, different cooperative societies also play a vital role in providing low priced goods to the people.
Many cooperatives like Mother Dairy in Delhi provides milk, vegetables and fruits in Delhi and NCR at subsidised rates.
(i) Various other societies like Kendriya Bhandar, Super Bazar also provide goods at rates below the market price to the general public.
(ii) An initiative was taken by Academy of Development Science (ADS) in setting up grain banks throughout the state of Maharashtra has been well applauded