This document provides the answer to Unstarred Question No. 1693, asked by Shri Malvinder Singh Kang and to be answered on December 10th, 2025, regarding the allocation of fortified rice to Punjab. The response, provided by the Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Shrimati Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, states that currently, no rice is allocated to Punjab under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). However, fortified rice is allocated under Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN). The allocations for the past three financial years are:
* 2025-26: 15194.00 MTs
* 2024-25: 21002.14 MTs
* 2023-24: 21078.61 MTs
Under PM-POSHAN, 15,58,309 children approved by the Program Approval Board (PAB) of the Department of School Education & Literacy for F.Y. 2025-26 are receiving mid-day meals including fortified rice. The document also states that complaints related to the Public Distribution System (PDS) received by the Department are sent to the respective State/UT Governments for inquiry and action. The Department of Food and Public Distribution has also formulated and issued a quality control manual to maintain quality standards of food grains throughout the procurement and distribution process.
Key Entities Referenced
Punjab: Indian state, the target location for fortified rice allocation.
National Food Security Act (NFSA): Act under which fortified rice is allocated to Punjab.
PM-POSHAN: Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) scheme, under which fortified rice is allocated to Punjab.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution: The ministry responsible for the allocation of fortified rice and answering the parliamentary question.
Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): A system related to food distribution where no rice is allocated to Punjab
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO, 1693
TO BE ANSWERED ON 10TH DECEMBER, 2025
ALLOCATION OF FORTIFIED RICE TO PUNJAB
1693. SHRI MALVINDER SINGH KANG:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be
pleased to state:
(a) the allocation of fortified rice to Punjab State under National Food Security Act (NFS A)
and PM-POSHAN, year-wise;
(b) the number of beneficiaries receiving fortified rice in the Punjab State;
(c) whether any quality-testing issues or consumer complaints have been reported and if so, the
details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to improve nutritional quality and monitoring of fortified
rice distributed in Punjab State?
ANSWER
MrNiSTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a)& (b): Currently, no rice is allocated to Punjab under Targeted Public Distribution System
(TPDS). The details of allocation of fortified rice to Punjab under Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti
Nirman (PM POSHAN) in last three years are as below:
Financial Year
Allocation (MTs)
15 1 94.00
2024-25 21002.14
2023-24 21078.61
Under PM-POSHAN, 15,58,309 nos. of children approved by the Program Approval Board
(PAB) of the Department of School Education & Literacy for F. Y. 2025-26 are receiving the mid-
day meals, including fortified rice.-2-
(c) & (d): As and when complaints related to Public Distribution System (PDS) are received in
this Department from any source, they are sent to State/UT Governments concerned for inquiry and
appropriate action. Further, the Department of Food and Public Distribution has formulated and
issued a quality control manual to uniformly maintain the quality standards of food grains from
procurement to its distribution to the eligible beneficiaries through various social security
programmes of Govt. of India.
SeEScSe Set