Why is it in the news?
The government temporarily discontinued rice fortification under PMGKAY after IIT Kharagpur study.
Study found micronutrient degradation during prolonged storage.
Category: Economy
Important Points:
● IIT Kharagpur study found moisture, temperature and storage affect nutrient stability
● Central pool rice stored for 2–3 years increases nutrient loss risk
● Annual allocation under PMGKAY: 37.2 million tonnes
● Total projected availability: 67.4 million tonnes
● Fortified rice produced by blending Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK)
● FSSAI mandates iron, folic acid (B9) and vitamin B12 fortification
● Policy first phase began October 2021 via ICDS and PM Poshan
● Temporary discontinuation will not reduce PDS, ICDS or PM Poshan entitlements
● Industry reported losses in folic acid, premixes and broken rice stocks