The recent National Conference of Food Ministers came to a disappointing conclusion as it failed to address the discontinuation of rice and wheat sales to States under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS), a decision directly tied to the Centre’s restrictions. The gathering’s primary agenda was to deliberate over actions plans for procuring coarse grains and enhancing focus on food and nutritional security. However, the Centre showed little inclination to appease the states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan, which heavily rely on OMSS to meet their food grain requirements. Union Food Minister Piyush Goyal stood firm on the Centre’s stance, emphasizing the necessity to protect the interests of those beyond the purview of the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Although it is undeniable that the non-NFSA beneficiaries must be cared for, the States’ plea for the removal of restrictions also considers the needs of non-NFSA populations. The individuals covered under the Act receive their allocations from the Centre’s monthly food grain distribution. It is crucial to understand that if States are compelled to resort to the open market, the prices of rice and wheat could surge, counteracting the Centre’s intent to stabilize prices through OMSS restrictions. Striking a balanced agreement could have mitigated everyone’s concerns to an extent. The current OMSS dispute should serve as a wakeup call for States, highlighting the risk in depending solely on the Centre for implementing food schemes. Each state must find cost-effective sources and become self-reliant. States should question the feasibility of doubling entitlements and replicating Union government schemes without matching resources. As Food Minister Goyal warns of the potential impacts of El Niño on food grain production and procurement, the Centre and States should prioritize strengthening the Public Distribution System over expanding existing schemes. In such uncertain times, improving implementation, efficiency, and security of food distribution must take precedence over mere expansion.