Lok Sabha Question No. 5302 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Distribution  of Fortified Rice under PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Pradeep Purohit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5302

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25T FI MARCH, 2026

## DISTRIBUTION OF FORTIFIED RICE UNDER PDS

## 5302.  SHRI PRADEEP PUROHIT:

Will  the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a): whether the Government is aware of the fact that fortified  rice is being distributed to beneficiaries under the Public Distribution  System  (PDS) to address deficiencies of vitamins and minerals and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) : whether it has come to the notice of the Government that a large number of beneficiaries avoid consuming this fortified  rice due to its different appearance, either use it for other purposes or discard it  as waste and if  so, the details thereof;
- (c) : the total amount of money spent by the Government on the distribution  of  fortified  rice during the last three years and the steps being taken by the Government to ensure that the nutritional  benefits of this scheme actually reach the beneficiaries; and
- (d): whether the Government has undertaken any public  awareness or sensitization programmes to educate people about the health benefits of fortified  rice and to prevent wastage of public funds and if so, the details thereon

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a) : Yes sir, to achieve uniform  nutritional  impact of fortified  rice among the targeted population, the Government of India  is supplying fortified  rice through all food safety net schemes. The Rice Fortification Initiative aims to provide fortified rice enriched with essential micronutrients such as iron, folic  acid, and vitamin  B12 to tackle micronutrient deficiencies, particularly  anemia.
- (b): No  such report has come to the notice of  the Department of  Food &  Public Distribution (DFPD).

A formative research study by Indian Council of Medical Research - National Institute of Nutrition  (ICMR-NIN) has identified that a few beneficiaries mistake floating Fortified  Rice Kernels (FRKs) for  contaminants, chaff or debris. This leads to the physical removal and discarding of the fortified  kernels by them during pre-cooking.

(c) &  (d):  Food subsidy is released for  distribution  of foodgrains (Wheat, Rice and Coarse grains), no commodity wise food subsidy released is maintained by DFPD. The total food subsidy released for distribution offoodgrains (including fortified rice) for the last three years is as under:

| Financial year   |   Amount in Rs. Crore |
|------------------|-----------------------|
| 2022-23          |                272502 |
| 2023 -24         |                211394 |
| 2024-25          |                199500 |

To educate people about the benefits of  fortified  rice, various State Governments were requested to organize programmes to create awareness on benefits of fortified rice and its positive impact on nutritional  security in the tribal  areas of the country. Besides, various workshops were held at Divisional/Regional Office level by FCI to sensitize the stakeholders about the nutrition  related benefits of fortified rice.

Information, Education, Communication (IEC)  materials were also shared by DFPD with States/UTs for their dissemination for  spreading awareness about it. A  provision  of Administrative/ Contingency Cost which  inter-alia includes IEC and Capacity Building  to the tune of Rs. 5.00 lakh per district was made, which was to be borne by the Government of India, during the implementation of rice fortification initiative in Phase-II and Phase-III.

ScR Seesesq