CBSE Class 9 Answered

Buffer stock and public distribution system are the two components of food security system.  

Buffer stock: Buffer stock is the sufficient stock of food grains. Mainly wheat and rice are procured by the government through Food Corporation of India as they are consumed by a large number of people in India.

Public Distribution System: Food purchased by the food corporation of India is distributed among the poor sections of society in a controlled way through ration shops. This system is known as the public distribution system. The ration or fair price shops sell food grains and other essential commodities to poor people at prices lower than the market rates. The objectives of the Public Distribution System are to ensure food security and poverty alleviation by making the essential commodities, especially food grains available at affordable and uniform prices at the door steps of the consumers. In India, public distribution system provides employment to large number of people and it supplies food grain at subsidised rate to the poor people. The families whose annual income exceeds one lakh rupees are given white ration card and they are excluded from the benefits of public distribution system.