Direct Cash Trasfer to the poor - What is it?

The recent budget presented by Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, brought in a new way of distributing subsidies to the poor.  Direct Cash Transfer.  What is it? How is it different? Will it be better than the existing Public Distribution System(PDS)?  Click http://www.valueresearchonline.com/story/h2_storyview.asp?str=16549 to find out more about it.