Lok Sabha Question No. 4088 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: Classification of Rice
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Thiru D M Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4088 ANSWERED ON 17/03/2026

## CLASSIFICATION OF RICE

## 4088. THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has classified all varieties of rice as basmati rice and non-basmati  rice  as  far  as  commerce  and  trade  activities,  if  so,  the  details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  is  it  not  a  biased  approach  and  showing  of  indifference  to  other speciality  varieties  to  term  them  inferior  to  basmati  rice,  if  so  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any scientific proof that other specialty varieties are inferior in quality compared to basmati rice, if so the details thereof; and
- (d) the appropriate measures taken by the Government to stop this discriminatory practice to classify other speciality rice as non-basmati rice?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री ( श्री णिणिन प्रसाद ) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a)  to  (d): As  per  the  Harmonized  system  (HS),  which  serves  as  the  international product nomenclature, rice is classified under tariff heading 10.06 at 4-digit level, with further subclassification into four tariff sub-headings, at the 6-digit level. At the national level, countries further sub-classify their products into tariff items, on a host of different factors, primarily to record trade and commerce and for regulatory requirements. In India, the products are classified into tariff items at 8-digit, notified under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975.

Basmati rice is a GI variety of aromatic rice grown in seven States/UTs of India namely Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, 3 districts of Jammu and Kashmir and 30 districts of Uttar Pradesh. It has a significant demand in the world market, with exports in 2024-25 valued at US$ 5.94 Billion with export volume of 6.07 million MT. To distinguish Basmati from other rice varieties, the Government in the year 2008 had notified the standards and qualifications of rice varieties for rice to be eligible as Basmati.

To enable accurate record of trade focused policy formulation and to enable specific interventions for the growth of commerce and trade of  specialty and other GI varieties of  rice,  the  Government,  has  created   new  tariff  items  for  rice,  based  on  process (Parboiled,  others)  and  on  variety  (rice  recognized  by  the  Geographical  Indication Registry,  Basmati,  others),  vide  the  amendment  in  the  Customs  Tariff  Act,  1975, effected through the Finance Act 2025, passed on 29th March 2025. This measure

has come into force on 1st May 2025, and covers more than 30 GI varieties of rice, as defined and recognized by the Geographical Indications Registry under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which are grown in more than 15 States/UTs of India.

India is one of the world's top producers of rice and is having a significant number of varieties of rice, with more 30 having been registered as Geographical Indication (GI) in India, along with Basmati. Each GI variety of rice has its own distinct taste profile, physical characteristics, aroma and corresponding demand in the international market. To  tap  this  demand  and  to  promote  exports  of  India's  diverse  rice  varieties,  the Department  of  Commerce,  through  the  Agricultural  &  Processed  Food  Products Exports Development Authority (APEDA) is taking various measures for the export promotion  of  rice  in  the  international  market,  which  includes  assistance  to  the exporters  under  APEDA's  Financial  Assistance  Scheme,  which  is  sub-divided  into three categories: (i). Development of infrastructure (ii) Quality Development (iii) Market Development. The details of financial assistance guidelines are available at APEDA's Website www.apeda.gov.in under the 'Scheme' tab.

APEDA has also supported research with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for profiling non-basmati rice varieties and is promoting GI and specialty rice through international fairs, buyer-seller meets and targeted market outreach.

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