Cabinet approves better-quality rice under PMGKAY for over 80 crore beneficiaries
The Union Cabinet has approved stricter quality standards for rice distributed under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana by reducing the permissible broken rice content. The move is expected to benefit more than 80 crore beneficiaries while improving food quality and transparency
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday decided to improve the quality of rice distributed to more than 80 crore beneficiaries through ration shops by reducing the percentage of broken rice in the supplies under the public distribution system.
In a post on X, Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the Cabinet had approved a reduction in the permissible limit of broken rice supplied through ration shops.
For raw rice, the limit has been reduced to 10 per cent from 25 per cent.
For parboiled rice, the limit has been reduced to 5 per cent from 16 per cent.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cabinet has taken a historic and transformative decision to further strengthen India’s food security architecture, Joshi said.
“For the first time in nearly three decades, the quality standards for rice distributed under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) have been upgraded,” he said.
The move will ensure better-quality food with dignity for more than 80 crore beneficiaries, he added.
“Every eligible family will continue to receive the same entitlement under PMGKAY, now with significantly improved quality,” the minister said.
Joshi said the reform reflected the government’s commitment to delivering better-quality rice, ensuring optimal utilisation of every grain, enhancing transparency through QR-based traceability and improving efficiency through prudent cost rationalisation.
The government said every grain procured from farmers would be utilised efficiently.
While the superior-grade rice will be supplied to beneficiaries through ration shops, the broken rice generated in the process will be used for ethanol production and animal feed.
The Centre procures wheat and rice from farmers at the minimum support price (MSP). The Food Corporation of India is the nodal agency for the procurement and distribution of foodgrains under the public distribution system (PDS). Under the National Food Security Act, the government distributes 5 kg of foodgrains (rice and wheat) per person every month free of cost. Families covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) receive 35 kg of foodgrains per month.
