India's Food Policy Since Independence

The food policy followed by the Government of India has been dependent, to a large extent, upon the availability of food grains in the country. In periods of shortages, stringent controls on movement, procurement of food grains and rationing have been resorted to. In periods of good production, on the other hand, a relaxation in these measures has taken place. Over the years, the fair price shop system has become the major instrument for supplies of food grains from government stocks to consumers.