New Delhi, December 5, 2024: Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & New and Renewable Energy launched the ‘Anna Chakra’ PDS Supply Chain Optimization tool and Inter-state Route Optimization Tool today during an event conducted by the Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, in the presence of distinguished dignitaries from union and state governments, United Nations World Food Programme and IIT Delhi.

The ‘Anna Chakra’ tools, developed by the Public Systems Lab at IIT Delhi in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), represents a major advancement in India’s efforts to enhance food security through technology-driven solutions.

This cutting-edge tool leverages sophisticated algorithms based on Operations Research (OR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize the massive Public Distribution System (PDS) supply chain across the country, serving as a lifeline for more than 81 crore beneficiaries.

The launch marks a significant milestone in India’s journey towards a smarter, more sustainable future. With continued government support and collaborative innovation, ‘Anna Chakra’ is set to redefine public distribution systems.

The impact of this effort is multidimensional: estimated cost savings of ₹250 crores annually with zero capital expenditure, reduced emissions contributing to India’s global commitments, and most importantly, efficient service delivery for public good. The ‘Anna Chakra’ tool is integrated with the PM Gati Shakti platform showcasing its versatility for logistics planning and optimization.

IIT Delhi aspires to expand Supply Chain Optimization to government sectors, share this Indian success story across global supply chains and is open to collaborations with public systems world over, underscoring its commitment to national development and large scale impact globally.

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