Effective management from the production stage to the distribution stage is necessary to maintain the price line. The PDS has a crucial role in ensuring this. The prices of essential articles and commodities have been rising over the last several months, and the life of the poor people, the common person and the middle classes has become miserable. The government has initiated certain steps to control prices, but their impact is insufficient to compensate for the suffering. Price rise is now a global issue. But with efficient management it is possible to control considerably the price line, particularly of essential commodities and articles, in our country. Foodgrains, cereals, edible oils, pulses, milk, sugar, tea, coffee, clothes and raw materials such as steel and cement are essential requirements for the common person. For a massive country like India with a population of more than 112 crores, ensuring the supply of essential articles and commodities at reasonable prices is a Herculean task. However, with proper vision and an efficient management and distribution system, it is possible to make available such articles and commodities at reasonable prices to consumers. This requires a massive Public Distribution System (PDS). Many people presume that the PDS relates only to the distribution system. Production, procurement, storage, processing and distribution are its important components. During 1973-74, the Planning Commission constituted a committee under the chairmanship of this writer to consider the issue of the PDS. Its report, known as the Dharia Committee Report, explains all aspects of the PDS. The production of wheat, rice, jowar, pulses, edible oils and