As a part of 100 Days Achievements of Department of Food and Public Distribution under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has embarked on a comprehensive digital transformation initiative to modernize its existing supply chain management system, known as the 'Depot Online System'. This ambitious project involves the implementation of a new, microservices-based integrated supply chain management system named ANNA DARPAN. The system is being designed to streamline and enhance the entire supply chain operations and services at various levels including Mandis, Mills, Depots (both owned and hired), as well as divisional, regional, zonal, and headquarters operations. This transformation is supported by advanced technology, a state-of-the-art IT environment, and an optimized architectural framework.

To bring this vision to life, FCI has engaged M/s Coforge Limited as the system integrator (SI). This selection was finalized with the signing of the contract on 14^th June 2024. M/s Coforge Limited shall be responsible for the end-to-end design, development, implementation, and maintenance of the ANNA DARPAN system.

The project is conceptualized as a comprehensive, turnkey solution that includes provisioning of a cloud environment for hosting the system. The application will be constructed using a service mesh architecture, facilitating seamless communication among microservices, along with API-based integration with external applications associated with FCI. Beyond the core applications and microservices, the project will also focus on developing a centralized analytics platform, empowering FCI to make more informed, data-driven decisions.

The ANNA DARPAN system has been envisioned to achieve several key objectives that align with the strategic vision of FCI leadership. These objectives are central to overcoming the limitations of the current systems and include:

1. Improved Efficiency and Productivity: Streamlining processes to optimize performance across the supply chain.
2. Interactive and User-Friendly UI Design: Creating an intuitive interface that enhances user interaction.
3. Data-Driven Decision Making: Leveraging data analytics to support strategic and operational decisions.
4. Integration with Internal and External Systems: Facilitating smooth interoperability with other systems, both within and outside FCI.
5. Merger of Existing Internal Systems: Merging and optimizing current applications to reduce redundancy and improve efficiency.
6. Mobile-First Approach: Prioritizing mobile accessibility to ensure the system is accessible anytime, anywhere.

In the Requirement Gathering, Analysis, and Documentation phase, M/s Coforge Limited has undertaken an extensive study of FCI’s operations. This includes a deep understanding and assessment of FCI's requirements, existing process flows, potential integration opportunities with current FCI-related applications, and the landscape of data analytics within the organization. To gain comprehensive insights, representatives from M/s Coforge Limited, in close collaboration with IT Division at FCI Headquarters, have initiated a series of requirement-gathering activities, including visits to multiple field offices. These efforts are critical in capturing the full spectrum of FCI’s operational ecosystem, ensuring that ANNA DARPAN is tailored to meet the specific needs of the organization. Presently, requirement gathering is under progress.

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