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India's Digital Food Revolution: How New Platforms Transform Storage and Distribution

The Centre has launched groundbreaking digital initiatives to revolutionize India's food storage and distribution networks. Bhandaran 360 serves as a comprehensive ERP platform integrating 41 modules across multiple business functions. This new system connects with 35 external platforms including FCI and port systems for seamless operations. Meanwhile, ANNA DARPAN replaces older systems to unify procurement, storage, and quality checks under one modern platform.

Key Points: Centre Launches Digital Initiatives to Strengthen Food Storage Systems

  • Bhandaran 360 integrates 41 modules covering HR, finance, and warehouse management
  • New platform connects with 35 external systems including FCI and port systems
  • Automated workflows using chatbots improve operational turnaround time
  • ANNA DARPAN replaces Depot Online System for integrated food management
2 min read

Centre launches digital initatives to strengthen food storage, logistics & public distribution systems

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi launches Bhandaran 360 and ANNA DARPAN platforms to modernize warehousing, streamline supply chains, and boost PDS transparency across India.

"Such initiatives support the Union government's mission of reducing logistics costs and minimising turnover time - Pralhad Joshi"

New Delhi, Nov 18

Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, launched a suite of digital initiatives to modernise warehousing, streamline supply chains and boost transparency across the Public Distribution System, a report said on Tuesday.

Such initiatives support the Union government's mission of reducing logistics costs and minimising turnover time, the Union Minister said, according to an official statement.

The centrepiece of these digital initiatives launched is Central Warehousing Corporation's new ERP platform, Bhandaran 360, built on SAP S/4HANA and integrating 41 modules covering HR, finance, marketing, warehouse management, contract management, project monitoring and other core functions, the statement said.

It is also linked with 35 external systems, including ICEGATE, port systems, FCI, NAFED, NCCF and WDRA, enabling seamless digital connectivity across the food storage and movement ecosystem.

Bhandaran 360 introduces single sign‑on, role‑based access, end‑to‑end encryption, audit trails, and real‑time dashboards to improve security and reduce manual dependency and to show operations from the warehouse level to the corporate level.

It also introduced automated workflows using chatbots and robotic process automation to improve turnaround time, the statement added.

The upgraded platform also adds several new features, such as a lead and marketing management module, integrated HRMS, project planning, SAP FICO, smart material management, biometric and geo-tagged attendance, a mobile app for measurement books, and strengthened contract monitoring.

These enhancements standardise operations across all CWC warehouses and support faster expansion, better service quality and improved accountability.

It helps ease of doing business and ease of living for farmers, FPOs, cooperatives, traders, MSME's and large enterprises, including e-commerce players.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) also rolled out ANNA DARPAN, a new microservices-based platform that replaces the existing Depot Online System.

ANNA DARPAN connects key activities such as procurement, storage, movement, sales, quality checks, labour management and contract monitoring under one integrated system.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As someone who works in logistics, I can appreciate how much difference this can make. The integration with 35 external systems is impressive. Should help reduce food wastage significantly. Good step towards modernizing our food storage infrastructure! 👍
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Michael C
While the initiative looks good on paper, I hope they've considered the digital literacy challenges in rural areas. Many fair price shop owners struggle with basic tech. Proper training and support systems are crucial for this to work.
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Ananya R
The ANNA DARPAN platform connecting procurement to distribution is exactly what we need! My father is a farmer and he always complains about delays in payments and grain storage issues. Hope this brings some relief to our annadata. 🌾
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Sarah B
Real-time dashboards and audit trails could be the key to reducing leakages in the system. The biometric attendance for workers is a smart move too. Let's hope the implementation matches the vision!
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Vikram M
Building on SAP platform shows they're using enterprise-grade technology. The single sign-on and encryption features are essential for security. Hope this doesn't become another expensive IT project that doesn't deliver actual benefits to common people.
K
Kavya N
If this system can actually reduce the time between procurement and payment to farmers,

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