New Delhi: The Centre has decided to temporarily stop the fortification of rice distributed under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and other welfare programmes after a review raised concerns about the stability of nutrients during long storage, Business Standard reported.
In an official statement, the government said the fortification process will remain on hold until a more reliable system is developed to ensure that beneficiaries receive the intended nutrients.
The move follows a study commissioned by the government and carried out by Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. The study examined how fortified rice kernels and fortified rice hold up under real storage conditions across different regions of the country.
The report found that factors such as moisture, temperature, humidity, storage conditions and packaging material play a key role in maintaining nutrient levels. It noted that micronutrients tend to decline over time, especially when rice is stored for long periods and handled repeatedly.
This finding is important because rice in the central pool is often stored for two to three years due to procurement levels and distribution patterns. Against an annual allocation of 37.2 million tonnes under PMGKAY and other schemes, total stocks in the central pool are projected at 67.4 million tonnes, including expected arrivals from the 2025–26 kharif marketing season that began in October. The higher availability compared to allocation means stocks may remain in storage longer, increasing the risk of nutrient loss.
In view of these challenges, the government said it has decided to pause fortification until a stronger and more effective method of delivering nutrients is put in place.
The Centre clarified that the temporary suspension will not reduce foodgrain entitlements and will not affect operations under the Public Distribution System, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) or the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. Distribution under these schemes will continue as usual.
As an interim step for the 2025–26 kharif marketing season and pending supplies from 2024–25, states and Union Territories have been allowed to choose between fortified and non-fortified rice based on their logistical needs.
However, the sudden halt has caused concern in the rice milling sector. Prem Goyal, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Sheller Sangh, said millers who had purchased materials such as folic acid, broken rice and premixes are facing heavy losses. He added that those who have already produced fortified rice kernels are unable to sell either the fortified rice or the raw materials in the open market. According to him, the government should have phased out the programme from the next crop season instead of stopping it abruptly.
The Centre had introduced rice fortification across welfare schemes to address deficiencies such as anaemia and malnutrition among vulnerable groups. The plan was to distribute fortified rice through all central schemes in a phased manner by 2024, as announced by the Prime Minister during his address on the 75th Independence Day.
The first phase began in October 2021, with fortified rice supplied through ICDS and the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman–PM Poshan scheme, formerly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
Fortified rice is prepared by blending fortified rice kernels with regular rice in line with standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, which mandates the addition of iron, folic acid and vitamin B12.
