CCEA approves better-quality rice under PMGKAY with lower broken-grain limits
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 2 July 2026 approved cutting the permissible broken grains in PMGKAY rice to 10% for raw rice and 5% for parboiled rice, the first revision of PDS rice specifications in nearly three decades.
Summary
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved on 2 July 2026 a reform to improve the quality of rice supplied under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and other welfare schemes. Raw rice will contain up to 10% broken grains instead of 25%, and parboiled rice up to 5% instead of 16%, the first change in Public Distribution System rice specifications in nearly three decades. Procurement of improved rice starts immediately and will cover all procuring States by Kharif Marketing Season 2027-28 in a phased manner, benefiting more than 80 crore beneficiaries. Broken rice will be auctioned from millers' premises, saving about Rs 2,161 crore a year, and rice bags will carry QR codes for traceability. PMGKAY itself was extended by the Cabinet on 29 November 2023 to provide free foodgrains to about 81.35 crore beneficiaries for five years from 1 January 2024.
Key facts
- Approved by
- CCEA, 2 July 2026
- Raw rice
- Broken grains up to 10% (was 25%)
- Parboiled rice
- Broken grains up to 5% (was 16%)
- Rollout
- All procuring States by KMS 2027-28, phased
- Savings
- About Rs 2,161 crore a year
- Traceability
- QR-code tagging of rice bags
- PMGKAY (static)
- Free foodgrains for about 81.35 crore people for five years from 1 January 2024
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Under the CCEA decision of 2 July 2026, what is the new maximum permissible broken grain content in raw rice supplied under PMGKAY?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 10%
Raw rice will contain up to 10% broken grains, replacing the earlier specification of up to 25%.
Consider the following statements about the PMGKAY rice quality reform approved in July 2026: 1. Parboiled rice will contain up to 5% broken grains instead of 16%. 2. Improved-quality rice will be rolled out across all procuring States by KMS 2027-28 in a phased manner. 3. Rice bags will carry QR codes for end-to-end traceability. Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
All three are part of the approved reform: 5% broken grains in parboiled rice (from 16%), phased rollout by KMS 2027-28, and QR-code tagging of bags.
By the Cabinet decision of 29 November 2023, free foodgrains under PMGKAY are provided to about 81.35 crore beneficiaries for a period of:
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Correct answer: A — Five years from 1 January 2024
The Cabinet decided on 29 November 2023 that the Centre will provide free foodgrains to about 81.35 crore beneficiaries under PMGKAY for five years with effect from 1 January 2024, at an estimated Rs 11.80 lakh crore.