REGULATORY · MARKET STRUCTURE · INDIA
India halts rice fortification in PMGKAY
Change
On February 27, 2026, India’s Union Food Ministry temporarily discontinued rice fortification under PMGKAY and allied welfare schemes until a more effective nutrient-delivery mechanism is identified.
Why it matters
The Food Ministry reviewed rice fortification implementation under PMGKAY and other welfare schemes and then discontinued the fortification process under PMGKAY and allied schemes. The discontinuation is time-unbounded in the excerpt and is tied to identification of an alternative nutrient-delivery mechanism. The ministry cited an IIT Kharagpur study assessing shelf life of fortified rice kernels and fortified rice under actual storage conditions across diverse agro-climatic zones. The government stated there is no reduction in foodgrain entitlements and no impact on PDS, ICDS, or Mid-Day Meal operations.
Implications
- • PMGKAY and allied schemes will distribute rice without the fortification process while the discontinuation remains in effect.
- • Foodgrain entitlements remain unchanged, per the ministry.
- • PDS, ICDS, and Mid-Day Meal Scheme operations continue without stated operational changes tied to the discontinuation.
Who is affected
- • Food Ministry and welfare-scheme administrators
- • Public distribution system (PDS) operators
- • ICDS and Mid-Day Meal Scheme implementers
- • Fortified rice kernel (FRK) and fortified rice supply-chain operators
Source
Topics
World & Politics Policy & Regulation Business & Markets Agriculture Health & Medicine Public Health Food & Beverages