In India, both Central and State governments prioritize their focus on ensuringfood security as the result of high degree of inequality in income distribution, poverty,unemployment, food insecurity and inadequate purchasing power. Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is one amongst the measures undertaken to ensure food security at affordable prices. Since the beneficiaries mainly reap its benefits through ration shops, heterogeneous perception of beneficiaries towards its effectiveness in ensuring food security need an in-depth analysis. In this context, a research question on how the beneficiaries perceive the importance of PublicDistribution System in ensuring food security has been raised and answered. Researcher made an attempt to know the beneficiaries’ perception on the role of Public Distribution System in ensuring food security and its relevance in present scenario, by making use of both primary and secondary data. It has been found in the study that PDS is highly relevant in ensuring food security in the state, especially to the poor and downtrodden and has a great role in providing a safety-netto the poor and in improving the nutritional value of thevulnerable sections in the society.

Food Security, Public Distribution System (PDS), Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)