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Govt temporarily halts rice fortification under welfare schemes to enhance nutrient delivery mechanism
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Monday, 02 March, 2026, 16 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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The Government of India has decided to temporarily discontinue the fortification of rice distributed under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and related welfare programmes, following an evidence-based review of nutrition intervention mechanisms. The announcement was issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution through an official Press Information Bureau release.
The decision comes after a comprehensive study led by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) assessed the stability and shelf life of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) and Fortified Rice (FR) under real-world storage conditions across varied agro-climatic zones in India. The research highlighted that factors such as moisture content, temperature, relative humidity and packaging quality significantly influence nutrient retention over extended storage periods. As a result, the fortified rice was found to be prone to micronutrient loss during routine handling and prolonged storage, limiting its effectiveness in delivering intended nutritional benefits.
The report further noted that rice stocks often remain in central storage for two to three years before distribution, which exceeds the effective shelf life needed to preserve fortification benefits. Considering this, the government has opted to suspend the fortification process until a more robust and effective nutrient delivery system is put in place.
Officials emphasised that this temporary pause will not affect foodgrain entitlements under the Public Distribution System (PDS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), or the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. Beneficiaries will continue to receive their full rice allocations as before.
To support the transition, States and Union Territories have been granted operational flexibility during the current Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2025–26, allowing them to supply either fortified rice or non-fortified rice depending on feasibility and logistical considerations.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to improving nutrition interventions and stated that efforts are underway to develop and operationalise a superior mechanism for nutrient delivery that safely and effectively enhances the health outcomes of food scheme beneficiaries.
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