Parliament Question: Permissible Limits of Broken Rice in PDS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4087 TO BE ANSWERED ON j2TFI AUGUST, 2026 PERMISSIBLE LIMITS OF BROKEN RICE IN PDS 4087 SHRI KE PRAKASH: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Union Government has assessed the preparedness of State procurement agencies and rice mills before revising the permissible limits of broken rice supplied under the Public Distribution System with effect from July 1, 2026; (b) if so, whether any representations have been received from the State Government of Tamil Nadu or rice milling associations regarding implementation of the revised quality norms; (c) whether the Government proposes to provide any transition period, technical assistance or financial support to facilitate compliance with the revised standards; and (d) the details of the steps taken by the Government to ensure that implementation of the revised norms does not adversely affect procurement, milling operations and timely distribution of foodgrains under the National Food Security Act? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIMATI NINIUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA) (a): Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 01.07.2026 has approved nation-wide rollout of supply of improved-quality rice with upto 10% broken in case of raw rice and with upto 5% broken in case of parboiled rice under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and Other Welfare Scheme (OWS). The supply of improved rice would be done in a phased manner in two years (upto KMS 2027-28). Government has taken up the roll out of the Improved Rice scheme in a well planned manner following trial milling study by FCI and successful implementation of pilot and phase-1. Initially, Department of Food and Public Distribution in February 2024, conducted a trial milling through FCI in 3 States i.e. Punjab, Telangana & Chhattisgarh. In the trial milling it was found that it is feasible to achieve raw rice with reduced broken upto 10% and extra broken separately.Thereafter, a pilot was done in 4 State i.e. Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for 10000 MT each. After successful completion of pilot, phase-1 of the scheme is being implemented in 7 States for 50 LMT quantity. Deliberations with various stakeholder through field visits, meetings and State Level Conferences were held. The state agencies also held meetings with millers. (b): No Sir. (c) & (d): The transition would be undertaken in a phased manner over two procurement seasons (upto KMS 2027-28), enabling gradual adoption by the procuring agencies and rice millers. During the transition period, procurement would continue under both CNIR with 25% broken rice and Improved rice. Additional Milling charges at the rate of Rs. 2.23/quintal paddy and Storage charges at the rate of Rs 1.23/quintal per Month are reimbursed to Millers for processing of Improved quality rice. The distribution of foodgrains to beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana will continue as per entitlement. ####8