The Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs previously known as "Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department" has been working since 1960s in J&K with the prime motive to provide food security to different sections of the society through implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) and by distributing foodgrains like Rice, Wheat, Flour, Sugar and Kerosene Oil at subsidized rates to the targeted beneficiaries. It helps in distributing adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people, particularly vulnerable sections, so as to help them live a life with dignity. The Department is also working for the welfare of the consumers by safeguarding poor sections of the society from rising costs of food grains.

This is a regulatory Department and implements various statutory Provisions as contained in the Essential Commodities Act 1955 and National Food Security Act, 2013 and other schemes notified by J&K Government or Government of India from time to time. It also helps in securing the rights of Consumers as provided under the Consumer Protection Act.

In addition, the Legal Metrology (erstwhile Weights & Measures) wing of FCS&CA is a frontline consumer organization in regulating markets by conducting extensive market-checking to prevent unfair trade practices relating to weights and measures/packaged commodities/Liquefied Petroleum Gas etc. It also safeguards the consumer’s interest by ensuring mandatory declarations on packaged commodities.