The Food Corporation of India (FCI) will distribute

Solution

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) will distribute 17.5 million tonne (MT) of fortified rice under the public distribution system (PDS) in 291 districts in the current fiscal. To reduce anemia and micro-nutrient deficiency among large sections of population, the government has decided to cover aspirational and high-burden districts ranked as per the health and socio-economic indicators developed by NITI Aayog in providing fortified rice through PDS in 2022-23. In the first phase of the programme 1.7 MT of rice enriched with micronutrients such as iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 was distributed to beneficiaries under Integrated Child Development Services and Pradhan Mantri Poshan (PM Poshan). Annual estimated cost of Rs 2,700 crore is anticipated for the fortified rice programme under NFSA by 2024. The extra outlay would be part of the central government’s food subsidy budget.