Lok Sabha Question No. 5365 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Supply of Fortified Rice under PMGKAY and other Welfare Schemes
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Arvind Dharmapuri

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5365

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25TH MARCH, 2026

## SUPPLY OF FORTIFIED  RICE UNDER PM(,KAY  AND OTHER WELFARE SCHEMES

## 5365. SHRI ARVIND DHARMAPURI:

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

- (a): whether the Government has temporarily  discontinued  or paused the supply of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRKs) under the Pradhan Mantri  Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and other welfare  schemes of the Government;
- (b): if  so, the reasons for the temporary  discontinuation  or pause in the supply of fortified rice under these schemes;
- (c) : whether the Government has undertaken any review or assessment regarding the implementation, quality standards or supply chain of fortified  rice during this period;
- (d) : whether the Government proposes to resume the distribution  of fortified  rice under the Pradhan Mantri  Garib Kalyan  Anna  Yojana  and other welfare  schemes and if  so, the expected timeline  for  its resumption;  and
- (e) : whether the Government maintains details regarding the number of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) compliant against Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) manufacturing units in the country  and if  so, the details thereof,  State-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a) to (c): Yes Sir, a study was assigned by the Government to IIT  Kharagpur to assess the shelf life of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) and Fortified Rice (FR) under actual storage conditions in diverse agro climatic zones in the country. The report concludes that factors such as moisture content, storage conditions, temperature, relative humidity  and packaging material critically influence  the stability and shelf life  of  Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) and Fortified Rice (FR). They are susceptible to micronutrient  reduction and shortening of shelf life  during prolonged storage  and routine handling. This reduction is rendering the effective shelf life  shorter than expected  and, in turn, limiting  the intended nutritional  outcomes. Considering procurement volumes and annual offtake,  rice remains in storage for two to three years.

The Government has reviewed the implementation of rice fortification  under the Pradhan Mantri Garib KaIyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)  and other welfare schemes of the Government of India. Based on this review, it  has been decided to temporarily discontinue the procurement  of fortified  rice under PMGKAY  and Other Welfare Schemes.  This does not entail any reduction in foodgrains entitlements and will  not affect operations under the PDS, Integrated Child  Development Services (ICDS), or Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme.

- (d): No  Sir, as of now, no such proposal is under consideration.
- (e): No  Sir, the Department of Food and Public Distribution  does not maintain such details.

]eSc gcSeScSc