CSD : INTRODUCTION
CSD stands for Canteen Stores Department, it is a government organization under Ministry of Defence which was created to provide easy access to quality products of daily use, at prices less than market rates. It provides various goods and services to the defence personnel and ex-servicemen at subsidized rates. It operates through a network of depots and unit run canteens (URCs) across the country. CSD offers a wide range of products, such as groceries, household items, liquor, electronics, vehicles, and more. Canteen Stores Department also offers various online platforms, such as the AFD portal, the CSD website, and mobile app, to facilitate the purchase and delivery of the products. CSD is a valuable and beneficial service for the defence community.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
The Canteen Stores Department (CSD) in India is governed by the Board of Control for Canteen Services (BOCCS), led by the Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri (RRM), along with members like the Defence Secretary and others. The day-to-day operations are overseen by the General Manager CSD, who also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Administration. The General Manager, holding the rank of Major General, gets support from two Joint General Managers, seven Deputy General Managers, and 18 Assistant General Managers. There are also 5 Regional Managers and 34 Area (Depot) Managers responsible for specific regions. This structured setup ensures effective management and decision-making to provide quality products at affordable prices to the armed forces, ex-servicemen, and their families.
CANTEEN STORES DEPARTMENT’s OPERATIONS
CSD’s trading operation deals with seven basic product Groups.
Group I – Toiletries
Group II – Household Requisites
Group III – General Use Items
Group IV – Watches and Stationery
Group V – Liquor
Group VI – Food & Medicinal Items
Group VII – 4 Wheelers, 2 Wheelers & White goods.
The CSD operates on a demand-based procurement system for various product groups. However, Group VII items, including 4-wheelers, 2-wheelers, and white goods, present a unique challenge as they cannot be stored or shelved at Unit Run Canteens (URCs). To address this, Canteen Stores Department follows a procurement method called “Against Firm Demand” (AFD). This means that these specific items are acquired directly from the dealer instead of storing at URCs. This means that Canteen Stores Department does not keep these things, but gets them from the seller when the customer asks for them and pays for them. This way, Canteen Stores Department can get big things for defence people and their families without any problem.
AFD CSD
Now we are aware that one of the most popular services offered by CSD is the AFD, which stands for Against Firm Demand, which means that the items are not stocked in Canteen Stores Department depots but are procured from the authorized dealers on the basis of the customer’s demand and payment. The customer has to submit their demand for AFD items to the depot and take delivery from the dealer after. AFD is a scheme that allows the eligible beneficiaries to purchase white goods (Major Appliance and vehicles from Canteen Stores Department at concessional prices. AFD items include cars, motorcycles, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, air conditioners, and more.
CLASSIFICATION OF AFD
AFD – I : deals with 4 wheelers, 2 wheelers, white goods viz. TV, Refrigerator, Washing machine, Microwave oven etc. The customer submits his/ her demand for AFD-I items, along with payment, to the Canteen Stores Depot and takes delivery from the authorized dealer after completing necessary documentation.
AFD – II : These include other costly items like mattresses, sunglasses, vacuum cleaner, etc. for which the URC places firm demand on dependent Canteen Stores Department Depot. After getting such firm demands, the Depot places the order with the concerned manufacturer and issues them on receipt.
To purchase AFD items from Canteen Stores Department, the beneficiaries need to register and login to the AFD portal, which is accessible through the Canteen Stores Department website(csdindia.gov.in). The AFD portal allows the beneficiaries to browse the available products, compare the prices, select the depot or dealer, and make the online payment. The beneficiaries also need to submit the required documents, such as the CSD smart card, PAN card, Aadhaar card, and service certificate or pensioner card.
Click here to register for AFD CSD
The AFD portal also provides the beneficiaries with the status of their order, the delivery details, and the customer care support. The beneficiaries can also cancel or modify their order within a specified time period. The AFD portal is a secure and convenient way to purchase AFD items from Canteen Stores Department AFD(AFD 1 items (csdindia.gov.in).
Apart from the AFD portal, the beneficiaries can also access the Canteen Stores Department website to get information on the CSD policies, procedures, and guidelines. The Canteen Stores Department website also provides the monthly bulletin, the new introduction form, the feedback form, and the contact details of the Canteen Stores Department officials. The Canteen Stores Department website is a useful resource for the beneficiaries to stay updated on the CSD activities and initiatives. Click here to proceed to CSD website (csdindia.gov.in)
CSD Four-Wheeler Entitlements – New Guidelines 2024
