Cabinet approves continuation of supply of free fortified rice

The rice fortification initiative will continue as a central sector initiative with 100 per cent funding by the Government of India as part of PMGKAY (Food Subsidy)

The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the universal supply of Fortified Rice under all schemes of the Government including Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and Other Welfare Schemes etc. in its present form, from July 2024 and up to December 2028.

The rice fortification initiative will continue as a central sector initiative with 100 per cent funding by the Government of India as part of PMGKAY (Food Subsidy), thus providing a unified institutional mechanism for implementation.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted between 2019 and 2021, anaemia remains a widespread issue in India, affecting children, women, and men across various age groups and income levels. Besides iron deficiency, other vitamin and mineral deficiencies, such as Vitamin B12 and folic acid, also persist, impacting the overall health and productivity of the population.

Food fortification has been used globally as a safe and effective measure to address anaemia and micronutrient malnutrition in vulnerable populations. Rice is an ideal vehicle for supplying micronutrients in the Indian Context as 65 per cent of India’s population consumes rice as a staple food. Rice fortification involves the addition of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) enriched with micronutrients (Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) as per standards prescribed by FSSAI to regular Rice (Custom Milled Rice).