Hunger amidst plenty: The policy and politics of food security in India

The paper surveys and analyses the most topical issues in food-grain management in India. In particular, it looks at procurement and price support operations, buffer stocking, food inflation, food subsidies and the public distribution system, with a view to diagnose and understand the current problems. It also attempts to uncover the political motivation and compulsions that might be underlying food policy choices that the government has made over the years. It also looks at the two drafts currently being discussed for the National Food Security Act.