1. Public Distribution system refers to the Ration Shops. 

2. The step taken by the Government to distribute food grains at subsidised rates is through this Public Distribution System. 

3. The nature, scope and functioning of PDS varies from State to State. 

4. There are two types of Public Distribution System. 

5. They are universal PDS and Targeted PDS. 

6. Under universal PDS, all the family ration card holders are entitled to the supplies from PDS. 

7. In the targeted PDS, the beneficiaries are identified based on certain criteria, leaving others. 

8. Tamil Nadu continues to have the universal system of PDS and supplies rice at free of cost to all card holders. 

9. Both the Union and the State Governments subsidised the supplies distributed through PDS. 

10. The National Food Security Act was passed by the Indian Parliament in 2013. 

11. According to this Act 50% of urban households and 75% of the rural households are known as priority households based on a set of criteria. 

12. They are supplied rice at Rs 3 per kg, and wheat at Rs 2 per kg, and millets at Rs 1 per kg. 

13. The Government of Tamil Nadu has declared that SMART family cards in lieu of existing family cards.