Lok Sabha Question No. 6176 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: Fortified Rice
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri T R Baalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6176

## TO BE ANSWERED ON IsT APRIL, 2026

## FORTIFIED RICE

## 6176. SHRI TRBAALU:

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

- (a): whether  it is a fact that Government has decided to stop distribution  of fortified rice as it has been found to be not safe for consumption;
- (b): if so, the basis on which the Scheme of supply of fortified  rice under Public Distribution System  (PDS)  was launched;
- (C): the details of total additional expenditure incurred in producing fortified  rice so far; and
- (d): whether any alternate Schemes are being mulled in place fortified rice to achieve the intended health benefits to consumers and if  so, the details thereoP

## ANSWER

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

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): The temporary discontinuation of rice fortification  under the Pradhan Nlantri Garib Kalyan Anna  Yojana  (PMGKAY) and Other  Welfare  Schemes was necessitated  by  a number of  factors, including Stability and Shelf-life of fortified  rice under actual storage conditions as established by a study by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)  Kharagpur. Also, a formative research study by Indian Council of Medical Research - National Institute of Nutrition  (ICMR-NIN) identified that many beneficiaries mistake floating FRKs for contaminants, chaff or debris. This leads to the physical removal and discarding of the fortified  kernels during pre-cooking, effectively  negating the program's nutritional  objectives.
- (b): Fortification is a globally recognized practice, and India follows guidelines aligned  with the World Health Organization (WHO). According to WHO's 2018 recommendations, rice fortification with  iron  is recommended in countries where rice is a staple food. In  India, with  65% of its population consuming rice daily, iron-fortified rice is particularly relevant. Moreover,  rice has the highest offtake  in government food  safety net programs, providing  a unique opportunity  to reach approximately 80 crore people, including women and children, efficiently.

Fortification  of rice has been adopted as a complementary  and mid term strategy to address iron deficiency anaemia along with  other strategies under Anaemia Mukt  Bharat initiative. A thorough inter-ministerial  consultation with  various stakeholders including NITI  Aayog, FSS AI, line Ministries (Ministry  of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Department of  School  Education &  Literacy)  and other relevant organizations as well  as the States/UTs were held during approval process of the rice fortification  initiative.

On the basis of  studies available in India and abroad; and also, the recommendation of FSSAI for  mandatory rice fortification  in India, the Government of India decided to scale-up the supply of  fortified  rice under Public Distribution System (PDS) and other food safety net programmes.

- (c): For the implementation of  Rice Fortification Initiative, the Government of  India has allocated Rs.1323.38 Cr. for  F.Y.  2022-23, Rs. 2679.47 Cr. for  F. Y. 2023-24 and then extended the initiative at an annual financial implication of Rs.3796 Cr.

Food subsidy is released for  distribution  offoodgrains (Wheat, Rice and Coarse grains), no commodity  wise food subsidy release is maintained by Department of Food and Public  Distribution (DFPD). The total food subsidy released for distribution of foodgrains (including fortified  rice) from  F.Y.  2021-22 to 24.03.2026 is as under:

| S No.   | Financial Year              |   Amount (in Rs. Crore) |
|---------|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
|         | 202 1 -22                   |                  288719 |
| 2       | 2022-23                     |                  272502 |
| 3       | 2023-24                     |                  211394 |
| 4       | 2024-25                     |                  199500 |
| 5       | 2025 -26 (as on 24.03.2026) |                  195747 |

- (d): Government of  India is emphasizing on enhancing the food basket by providing options such as Shree Anna or Vlillets  through PDS, as millets are known to  have very high nutrient contents. No  other scheme to  replace Rice Fortification Initiative is under consideration of Government at this time

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