Parliament Question: Biofortified Foodgrains through PDS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5492 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25Tll MARCH, 2026 BIOFORTIFIED FOODGRAINS THROUGH PDS t5492. SHRI HARISH CHANDRA MEENA: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a): whether Government is taking steps to encourage distribution ofbiofortified foodgrains through the Public Distribution System (PDS) to address the shortage of mrcronutrlents; (b): if so, the details ofbiofortified crop varieties being purchased and distributed by the Government under food schemes at present; and (c): whether there is any plan to comprehensively cover such nutrient-rich staples in districts with high malnutrition rate like Tonk-Sawai Madhopur and if so, the details thereon ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a) to (c): No. At present, no such proposal is under consideration. Government of India is emphasizing on enhancing the food basket by providing options such as Shree Anna or Millets through PDS, as millets are known to have very high nutrient contents. SeSeScS eScSe