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India Launches AI-Enabled Smart Warehousing Across 216 Central Warehousing Corp. Facilities
On 18 June 2026, Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi inaugurated a smart warehousing system that will bring real‑time monitoring and automated control to all 216 grain storage warehouses operated by the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC). The initiative, described by Joshi as a food‑security measure, uses artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet‑of‑Things (IoT) technologies to track inventory, enforce security protocols and improve operational efficiency.
The launch took place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Joshi said the system would help keep food grains safe and secure and would strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS). He added that the technology infusion would reduce diversion of grains meant for the PDS to other uses.
CWC, a statutory body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, manages 734 warehouses across India with a storage capacity of 10 million tonnes. The new system equips each of the 216 warehouses with a comprehensive suite of sensors and software. According to the ministry’s statement, the deployment includes:
Surveillance cameras linked to AI‑based video analytics for fire, smoke and rodent detection; FASTag and Automatic Number‑Plate Recognition (ANPR) gates integrated with the Vahan‑Sarathi database for automated entry and exit; Smart locking mechanisms that restrict godown access to authorised personnel; AI‑driven bag‑counting systems that automatically tally grain bags; Face‑recognition enabled quality inspections; IoT gas sensors that monitor carbon dioxide and phosphine levels.
All data streams feed into the CWC Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, generating automated records, real‑time alerts and multi‑level dashboards that provide visibility from the warehouse floor to the ministry.
San jeev Chopra, Union Food Secretary, explained that the system would reduce manual dependence at critical points such as gates, weighbridges and godowns, and would create cleaner records, faster movement, stronger controls and better monitoring.
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) will roll out a similar smart warehousing system in 150 of its warehouses by October 2026, according to the ministry. FCI warehouses also store grains for the PDS.
The initiative comes amid a broader effort to improve the efficiency of the PDS, which distributes subsidised rice and wheat to 79 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act. Joshi noted that after 2.21 crore ineligible ration‑card holders were delisted by state governments, the centre could issue nearly 3 crore fresh cards to eligible families.
The smart warehousing rollout is part of a national push to modernise food‑grain logistics and reduce leakage. By automating inventory tracking and security, the government aims to curb diversion and ensure that the grains earmarked for the PDS reach the intended recipients.
While the system’s full impact will unfold over the coming months, the launch marks a significant step toward integrating AI and IoT into India’s food‑distribution infrastructure.
The project is expected to set a precedent for future technology‑driven reforms in public sector logistics and could influence similar initiatives in other sectors such as industrial warehousing and customs clearance.
The ministry has not yet released performance metrics for the new system, but it has indicated that the integration with ERP and real‑time dashboards will enable faster decision‑making and tighter control over grain stocks.
The smart warehousing initiative is one of several government programmes aimed at leveraging technology to improve transparency and efficiency in public distribution and supply‑chain management.
As the rollout continues, stakeholders will monitor how the AI‑enabled system affects grain inventory accuracy, security incidents, and overall PDS delivery performance.
The launch took place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Joshi said the system would help keep food grains safe and secure and would strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS). He added that the technology infusion would reduce diversion of grains meant for the PDS to other uses.
CWC, a statutory body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, manages 734 warehouses across India with a storage capacity of 10 million tonnes. The new system equips each of the 216 warehouses with a comprehensive suite of sensors and software. According to the ministry’s statement, the deployment includes:
Surveillance cameras linked to AI‑based video analytics for fire, smoke and rodent detection; FASTag and Automatic Number‑Plate Recognition (ANPR) gates integrated with the Vahan‑Sarathi database for automated entry and exit; Smart locking mechanisms that restrict godown access to authorised personnel; AI‑driven bag‑counting systems that automatically tally grain bags; Face‑recognition enabled quality inspections; IoT gas sensors that monitor carbon dioxide and phosphine levels.
All data streams feed into the CWC Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, generating automated records, real‑time alerts and multi‑level dashboards that provide visibility from the warehouse floor to the ministry.
San jeev Chopra, Union Food Secretary, explained that the system would reduce manual dependence at critical points such as gates, weighbridges and godowns, and would create cleaner records, faster movement, stronger controls and better monitoring.
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) will roll out a similar smart warehousing system in 150 of its warehouses by October 2026, according to the ministry. FCI warehouses also store grains for the PDS.
The initiative comes amid a broader effort to improve the efficiency of the PDS, which distributes subsidised rice and wheat to 79 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act. Joshi noted that after 2.21 crore ineligible ration‑card holders were delisted by state governments, the centre could issue nearly 3 crore fresh cards to eligible families.
The smart warehousing rollout is part of a national push to modernise food‑grain logistics and reduce leakage. By automating inventory tracking and security, the government aims to curb diversion and ensure that the grains earmarked for the PDS reach the intended recipients.
While the system’s full impact will unfold over the coming months, the launch marks a significant step toward integrating AI and IoT into India’s food‑distribution infrastructure.
The project is expected to set a precedent for future technology‑driven reforms in public sector logistics and could influence similar initiatives in other sectors such as industrial warehousing and customs clearance.
The ministry has not yet released performance metrics for the new system, but it has indicated that the integration with ERP and real‑time dashboards will enable faster decision‑making and tighter control over grain stocks.
The smart warehousing initiative is one of several government programmes aimed at leveraging technology to improve transparency and efficiency in public distribution and supply‑chain management.
As the rollout continues, stakeholders will monitor how the AI‑enabled system affects grain inventory accuracy, security incidents, and overall PDS delivery performance.
