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Current Affairs Pulse

National15 Jun 2026

Pralhad Joshi launches AI-based Smart Warehousing System for foodgrain storage

8 sections below — scroll or usetocto jump
  • 1

    Union Minister Pralhad Joshi launched the Smart Warehousing System for foodgrain storage at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

  • 2

    The system uses AI and IoT to monitor inventory and operations in real time.

  • 3

    It is operational across 215 bag-based warehouses of the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC); FCI plans 150 more by October 2026.

  • 4

    Technologies include FASTag/ANPR gate automation, geo-tagged smart locks, AI bag counting and face recognition.

  • Launched by: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi (Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution)
  • Venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
  • Purpose: real-time monitoring of foodgrain inventory and warehouse operations
  • Deployed across 215 CWC bag-based warehouses
  • FCI to add 150 more warehouses by October 2026
CWC warehouses already covered
215 (bag-based)
FCI warehouses planned
150 by October 2026
Core technologies
AI, IoT, FASTag/ANPR, geo-tagged smart locks, face recognition

Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC)

Public sector warehousing body for storage of foodgrains and other goods

Head: Under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public DistributionHQ: New Delhi (established 1957)

Food Corporation of India (FCI)

Nodal agency for foodgrain procurement, storage and distribution under PDS

Head: Under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public DistributionHQ: New Delhi (established 1965)
Inefficient manual warehousing causes grain losses, slow vehicle movement and weak oversight. By cutting vehicle turnaround time, enabling early hazard detection and giving real-time visibility, the system strengthens food security infrastructure and brings transparency to one of the world's largest public foodgrain operations.
  • FASTag and ANPR-based gate automation
  • Geo-tagged smart locks for access control
  • AI-enabled bag counting
  • Face recognition systems
  • IoT-based real-time monitoring

Exam Relevance

ssc

General Awareness > Government Initiatives & PSUs

upsc

GS Paper III > Food Security & PDS

railway

General Awareness > Current Affairs & Technology

Expected Questions

  • The Smart Warehousing System is associated with which two government bodies?
  • Which ministry administers the CWC and FCI?

Key Terms

CWC

Central Warehousing Corporation, established 1957, a key public warehousing body under the Food & Public Distribution Ministry.

FCI

Food Corporation of India, established 1965 under the Food Corporations Act, 1964, central to foodgrain procurement and PDS.

priority_highMust Remember

  • Smart Warehousing System launched by Pralhad Joshi at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
  • Covers 215 CWC warehouses; FCI to add 150 by October 2026
  • CWC established 1957; FCI established 1965

tips_and_updatesExam Tips

  • Both CWC and FCI fall under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution; do not place them under the Agriculture Ministry.
Question 1 of 3Score: 0/0
Factual

Which Union Minister launched the AI-based Smart Warehousing System for foodgrain storage in June 2026?