Explanation:

The main elements of the Government’s food management policy are procurement, storage and movement of foodgrains, public distribution and maintenance of buffer stocks.

Under the existing procurement policy of the Government of India (GOI) / Union /Central Government, foodgrains for the Central Pool are procured by various agencies such as FCI, State Government Agencies (SGAs) and private rice millers. Before the start of each procurement season, Govt. of India announces uniform specification for quality of wheat, paddy, rice and coarse grains. Procurement of wheat and paddy for the Central Pool is carried out on open ended basis (i.e., accepting all the grains that are sold to it by farmers) at the declared Minimum Support Price (MSP) fixed by the GOI.

The procured food grains are taken over from State Government Agencies (SGAs) and private rice millers into the Central Pool by FCI and are moved from the procuring states to the consuming states for distribution to the consumers and for creation of buffer stock in various states.

At present, NFSA covers up to 75 per cent of the rural population and 50 per cent of the urban population in the country. Based on this, state-wise coverage under NFSA was determined by the erstwhile Planning Commission—now NITI Aayog—by using the National Sample Survey Household Consumption Expenditure Survey data for 2011-12. Hence statement 2 is correct.

The function of distribution of foodgrains to the consumers is carried out by the State Governments through Targeted Public Distribution Scheme [TPDS] and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS). Hence statement 3 is not correct.

The concept of buffer stock was first introduced during the fourth Five Year Plan (1969-74). Buffer stock of food grains in the Central Pool is maintained by the GOl for meeting the prescribed minimum buffer stock norms for food security. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs fixes the quarterly minimum buffer norms of every financial year. Hence statement 1 is correct.