- Why in news
- On 27 February 2026 the Food Ministry announced a temporary halt to rice fortification under PMGKAY and allied schemes, after an IIT Kharagpur study found fortified rice loses nutrients in storage.
- What it is
- Rice fortification adds micronutrients such as iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 to rice by blending Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) with ordinary rice. It was meant to tackle anaemia and malnutrition through the PDS, ICDS and Mid-Day Meal. PMGKAY gives free foodgrain to priority households under the National Food Security Act.
- Decision
- Fortification under PMGKAY and allied schemes is stopped temporarily until a more effective nutrient delivery mechanism is found.
- Study
- IIT Kharagpur assessed the shelf life of FRK and fortified rice in diverse agro-climatic zones.
- Storage time
- Rice stays in storage for two to three years, which shortens the effective shelf life of fortified rice.
- Stock position
- Annual allocation is 372 LMT against a projected central pool availability of 674 LMT.
- Entitlements
- Foodgrain entitlements are not reduced, and PDS, ICDS and Mid-Day Meal continue.
- State flexibility
- For KMS 2025-26 and pending KMS 2024-25 receipts, States/UTs may supply fortified or non-fortified rice.
Don’t confuse with Fortification vs biofortification: Fortification adds nutrients during processing; biofortification breeds crops to have higher nutrient content in the plant itself.
Don’t confuse with PMGKAY vs NFSA: NFSA is the 2013 law giving legal entitlements; PMGKAY is the scheme delivering free grain to those covered.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Shows the need to base nutrition policy on field evidence such as storage studies.
- Protects the foodgrain entitlement while the nutrient route is reworked.
Problems
- Anaemia and micronutrient deficiency remain high, and the pause removes a key tool against them.
- Long storage of two to three years in a large central pool degrades quality.
Way forward
- Develop a robust delivery mechanism, such as better packaging, shorter storage or alternatives like biofortified crops and a diversified PDS basket.
- Monitor nutrition outcomes and use independent evaluation before scaling any new approach.
Put in your answer
IIT Kharagpur shelf-life study: Cite it as evidence that storage conditions erode micronutrients in fortified rice, a case for evidence-based policy.
Central pool stock: Projected 674 LMT in the central pool against 372 LMT annual allocation shows surplus stock and long storage.
- 2019Mains GS3 · Q13What reformative steps made food grain distribution system more effective
- 2021Mains GS3 · Q13Salient features of NFSA 2013 and its role against hunger
- 2013Mains GS3 · Q4Apprehensions in implementing Food Security Bill and WTO concerns
- 2017Prelims Q23Which are objectives of National Nutrition Mission, including anaemia reduction
- 2023Prelims Q52Which Anaemia Mukt Bharat interventions are correctly described among the listed statements
- 2010Prelims Q8Which statement best describes golden rice's pro-vitamin A nutritional engineering
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
With reference to the recent decision on rice fortification under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), consider the following statements: 1. The Government has permanently ended rice fortification under PMGKAY. 2. The shelf-life study of Fortified Rice Kernels and Fortified Rice was assigned to IIT Kharagpur. 3. The decision reduces the foodgrain entitlements of PDS beneficiaries. 4. For KMS 2025-26, States/UTs may supply either fortified or non-fortified rice.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
True or false?
1 of 7
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The Government has permanently ended rice fortification under PMGKAY.
False. The discontinuation is temporary, until a more effective delivery mechanism is found.
2.The shelf-life study of fortified rice was assigned to IIT Kharagpur.
True. IIT Kharagpur carried out the study under actual storage conditions in diverse agro-climatic zones.
3.The decision reduces foodgrain entitlements of PDS beneficiaries.
False. There is no reduction in foodgrain entitlements, and PDS, ICDS and Mid-Day Meal operations are unaffected.
4.For KMS 2025-26, States/UTs may supply either fortified or non-fortified rice.
True. States/UTs were given this flexibility as a transitional measure.
5.The study found that moisture, temperature, humidity and packaging affect the stability of fortified rice.
True. These factors critically influence stability and shelf life of FRK and FR.
6.Rice under these schemes typically stays in storage for about six months before distribution.
False. Rice remains in storage for two to three years.
7.Fortified rice is made by blending Fortified Rice Kernels with ordinary rice.
True. FRK are mixed with regular rice, typically in a 1:100 ratio.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Mains practice
15 marks · 250 words
The Food Ministry has temporarily halted rice fortification under PMGKAY and allied schemes after a study found that fortified rice loses nutrients during storage of two to three years. Critically examine the features and objectives of rice fortification through the PDS, ICDS and Mid-Day Meal, the challenges that led to this decision, and suggest a way forward for tackling anaemia and malnutrition.
Source: PIB, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, 27 Feb, 21:41 IST · Release 285023
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.