Parliament Question: Rice Diverted for Ethanol Production

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1703 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29TH JULY, 2026 RICE DIVERTED FOR ETHANOL PRODUCTION 1703 SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased

to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of reports of Government-procured rice being diverted for ethanol production and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has identified any instances of diversion or misuse of rice procured under the Public Distribution System (PDS) or from Food Corporation of India (FCI) for ethanol production and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has ordered or completed any inquiry into the alleged diversion of Government rice for ethanol production and if so, the findings thereof;

(d) the details of the quantity of Government rice seized in cases related to illegal diversion for ethanol production during the last three years, State-wise;

(e) the details of rice procured by the Government agencies and the quantity subsequently allocated or diverted for ethanol production during the last three years, State-wise; and

(f) the Government has received any representations, objections or memoranda from any stakeholders opposing the use of Government rice for ethanol production and if so, the details thereoF ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRIM ATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)(a): Government of India, after maintaining buffer stocks and making provision for meeting the requirements under National Food Security Act (NFS A) and Other Welfare Schemes ( C)WS), allows sale of excess stock of rice under Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) (OMSS (D)) through Food Corporation of India (FCI) for ethanol production under Ethanol Blended p’etrol

(EBP) Programme.

(b) & (c): No instance of diversion of rice allocated under Targeted Public Distribution System for ethanol production has come to notice of the Government. However, two cases of diversion of FCI rice meant for ethanol production were detected by the Government agencies and prompt action has been initiated. Following detection of irregularities in the movement of rice consignments by the two distilleries, State Food Departments have taken necessary action. FCI has also discontinued further allocation of rice to these distilleries

(d): State Government of Madhya Pradesh has seized 242.50 quintals of FCI Rice issued for ethanol production which has been allegedly diverted by a distillery in the State. Similarly, State Government of Uttar Pradesh has seized about 540 quintals of FCI Rice allegedly diverted by a distillery in the State.

(e): State-wise procurement of rice since Kharif Marketing Season 2023-24 is given at Annexure-l.

The allocation and lifting of FCI rice for production of ethanol under EBP Programme during the last three Ethanol Supply Years (ESYs) is given as below:

Ethanol SupplyjAllocated Quantity ofFCI rice (injQuantity of FCI rice lifted Year(EST) ILMT) Idistilteries (in LMT) 2023-24 NIL 2 3 2024-25 52 31.83 upto 72 44.2

30.06.2026

(f): No, Government has not received any representations, objections or memoranda from any stakeholders opposing the use of Government rice for ethanol production.

88884Annexu re-I Annexure referred to in reply to part (e) of the LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1703 due for answer on 29.07.2026 State-wise details of quantity of rice procured from Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2023-24 to KMS 2025-26:

KMS 2025-26 (Upto STATE/UT KMS 2023-24 KMS 2024-25

21.07.2026) A&N ISLANDS 0.00 0.00 0.00 ANDHRA PRADESH 20.38 25.60 39.59 TELANGANA 63.86 65.09 74.49 ASSAM 2.64 5.70 4.61 BIHAR 20.63 26.28 25.02 CHANDIGARH 0.17 0.18 0.13 CHHATISGARH 83.00 78.00 73.00 DELHI 0.00 0.00 0.00 GUJARAT 0.57 0.24 0.46 HARYANA 39.49 36.17 41.58 HIMACHAL PRADESH 0.15 0.25 0.14 JHARKHAND 0.50 1.40 1.06 JAMMU & KASHMIR 0.16 0.22 0.33 KARNATAKA 0.00 0.00 0.04 KERALA 3.80 3.83 3.76 MADHYA PRADESH 28.25 29.09 34.67 MAHARASHTRA 7.80 10.67 12.50 ODISHA

48.20 58.17 54.20 PUDUCHERRY 0.00 0.00 0.00 PUNJAB 124.14 116.13 104.86 NEF(TRIPURA) 0.21 0.24 0.15 TAMIL NADU

23.77 32.63 28.16 UTTAR PRADESH 36.05 38.66 41.75 UTTRA KH AND 4.89 4.51 5.02 WEST BENGAL 16.79 19.91 16.71 RAJASTHAN 0.00 0.00 0.00 OTHERS 0.00 0.00 0.00 ALL INDIA TOTAL : 525.48 552.98 562.21 $88++