New Delhi: Union Cabinet has approved a Rice quality reform to improve rice supplied under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and other welfare schemes. The decision will benefit more than 80 crore beneficiaries across the country.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved revised quality standards for the first time in nearly three decades. The government said the move will improve grain quality without reducing beneficiary entitlements.
Under the revised norms, raw rice will contain up to 10 percent broken grains instead of 25 percent. Likewise, parboiled rice will contain up to 5 percent broken grains instead of 16 percent.
The government will begin procuring improved-quality rice immediately. However, it will implement the revised standards across all procuring states in phases by the Kharif Marketing Season 2027–28.
Rice quality reform to improve efficiency
Beneficiaries will receive rice with better grain quality and improved appearance. Moreover, the government said the revised standards would increase consumer satisfaction while maintaining existing allocations.
Meanwhile, millers will separate broken rice for productive industrial use. As a result, only higher-quality edible rice will reach beneficiaries under PMGKAY.
The reform will also reduce transportation, storage and packaging costs. Therefore, the government expects annual savings of about ₹2,161 crore. Additionally, the sale of broken rice will generate extra revenue and reduce the food subsidy burden.
Pilot projects in Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, Telangana and Chhattisgarh confirmed the operational feasibility of the new standards. Consequently, the improved-quality rice produced during the pilot phase will also reach beneficiaries.
Furthermore, the government will introduce QR-code tagging on rice bags. This system will strengthen traceability, improve inventory management and reduce leakages in the Public Distribution System.
The Centre said the reform marks the next step in strengthening food security by providing better-quality rice while improving transparency, operational efficiency and fiscal management.
Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, the Union #Cabinet has taken a historic and transformative decision to further strengthen India’s food security architecture.
For the first time in nearly three decades, the quality standards for… pic.twitter.com/zFJ5SWC0Wc
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) July 1, 2026
