The Full-Form of TNEPDS is Tamilnadu Electronic Public Distribution System.

The goal of the Public Distribution System in Tamil Nadu is to ensure food security to all citizens, particularly poor people, by making available essential commodities of good quality at affordable prices every month, through fair price shops which are accessible.

Tamil Nadu Government is implementing  Universal Public Distribution System (UPDS) and no exclusion is made based on the income criteria. The Hon’ble Chief Minister has made the universal public distribution system ‘poor friendly’ by ordering rice at free of cost under public distribution system to all eligible card holders from 01.06.2011

      Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation procures rice and other essential commodities required for public distribution system from Food Corporation of India and through tenders. Distribution of commodities through fair price shops is being carried out by Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and the Cooperative societes.

Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation lifts essential commodities from Food Corporation of India and stores them in 226 operational godowns located all over the state. From the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation operational godowns, stocks are moved by lead Cooperative Societies / self lifting societies  and delivered at the doorsteps of fair price shops. Similarly, Sugar is moved by Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation from the respective Cooperative / Private Sugar Mills and distributed through its operational godowns. Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation also procures various other essential commodities for Special Public Distribution System directly from the market through tenders and also through designated Government of India agencies. Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and Cooperatives lift kerosene from wholesale dealers of the oil companies

Issue of family cards to eligible families is a continuous process and this Government have issued necessary instructions to the Principal Commissioner and Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection to issue cards without delay. At the same time, bogus cards are also being eliminated.

Application form for applying new family card has been prescribed by Government and can be downloaded from Civil Supplies Department website www.consumer.tn.gov.in