Telangana to implement stricter rice quality norms under TPDS

The Telangana Civil Supplies Department will implement new GOI-mandated quality norms for rice under TPDS from KMS 2026-2027. Millers agreed to limit broken grains and supply 20,000 metric tonnes of steamed rice for welfare schemes including Mid-Day Meal

Hyderabad: The Telangana Civil Supplies Department is set to implement stringent new quality standards for rice supplied under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) with an aim to enhance the quality of foodgrain distribution. Civil Supplies Commissioner M Stephen Raveendra on Friday convened a meeting with the State’s rice millers to outline the Government of India (GOI) latest directives.

Starting from the next Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2026-2027 onwards, the GOI mandates the delivery of Custom Milled Rice (CMR) with a strict maximum limit of 10 percent broken grains for raw rice and five percent broken grains for boiled rice nationwide. During the meeting, Stephen Raveendra urged the millers to prepare for these upcoming standards by upgrading their milling machinery accordingly. The Telangana Rice Millers Association agreed to the new quality parameters fully, committing to ensuring the supply of quality rice under the PDS, the Civil Supplies Department claimed.

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Furthermore, prioritising the health and nutrition of children, the Commissioner announced the supply of steamed rice exclusively for Other Welfare Schemes (OWS), which include the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme and government hostels. To ensure that students consume nutritious and high-quality meals, the rice millers agreed to supply 20,000 metric tonnes of steamed rice specifically for these welfare programmes, officials said.

Telangana Rice Millers Association president D Nagender, General Secretary Sri Mohan Reddy and other key representatives participated in the meeting.