The Union Cabinet approves the extension of the SARTHAK-PDS scheme with a central outlay of ₹25,530 crore, according to multiple reports. The continuation is approved for the remainder of the 16th Finance Commission cycle award period, and the scheme is set to run for the next five years. Sources state that the extended programme will strengthen foodgrain distribution and support efforts to modernise India’s public distribution system (PDS). The extension is expected to remain in effect until March 2031, aligning with the scheme’s revised end date. While the reported communications focus on funding and duration, both outlets describe the same overarching objective: improving the delivery of subsidised foodgrains and enhancing the functioning of the PDS through modernisation. The Cabinet’s decision covers the central funding component for the extended period, indicating continuity in implementation plans for SARTHAK-PDS rather than a change in its core purpose. No additional policy changes beyond the extension, timeline, and outlay are highlighted in the provided summaries.