New Delhi, October 12, 2026: The Indian Army today launched the ‘Bharat Rice’ for the defence forces, at a ceremony in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi.
The event also featured the signing of an MoU between the Indian Army and Food Corporation of India (FCI) for utilisation of its infrastructure during operational contingencies.
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This superior quality rice will be delivered directly to Army Supply Depots, including those in far-flung areas of Ladakh and the North East, instead of being collected by Army depots from local FCI facilities.
In his address, Raksha Mantri described ‘Bharat Rice’ as a bond of trust that begins in the farmer’s field and extends to the soldier’s plate.
Singh stated that the initiative provides a tangible form to the spirit of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ as it embodies a collective resolve where the hard work of a farmer transforms into the strength of a soldier.
“This superior-quality rice will be provided in accordance with standard specifications. Furthermore, we are ensuring ergonomic packaging. While this initiative might appear small, it offers immense operational relief to the soldiers responsible for transporting rations to remote and difficult terrains,” he added.
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Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi appreciated the ‘Bharat Rice’ initiative, and said that it is a matter of pride for his department to provide superior quality rice to those who protect the nation with unmatched bravery and dedication.
“To provide quality food to the nation’s protectors and cater to their needs is our duty,” he said.
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Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Secretary (Food and Public Distribution) Sanjeev Chopra and senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, FCI, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED) and the cooperative sector were present on the occasion.
About Bharat Rice
Spearheaded by the Directorate General of Supplies and Transport, the Bharat Rice initiative is based on sustained feedback from troops and is aimed at improving the quality of rations. The rice will be milled to prescribed defence specifications and supplied through NAFED during Financial Year 2026-27. It will undergo requisite quality-control checks and will be free from foreign matter and admixtures, with minimal broken, damaged and discoloured grains.
Procurement in 10 kg and 30 kg bags will further ease handling and transportation, particularly at forward posts. The initiative follows nearly 18 months of coordination among the Army, FCI, NAFED and the Department of Food & Public Distribution.
The MoU with FCI draws upon operational lessons, including those from Operation Sindoor, which highlighted the requirement for resilient logistics arrangements during contingencies that may arise at short notice and extend over prolonged periods. It provides the Indian Army a formal framework to utilise identified FCI warehousing infrastructure, labour resources and material-handling equipment during operational contingencies.
Coordination will be undertaken at formation level between the Army’s Supply and Transport elements and FCI’s Regional and Divisional Offices and integrated into operational logistics plans. The MoU will remain valid for five years, extendable by mutual consent.
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The arrangement will enable additional storage, rapid mobilisation, dispersion and forward positioning of rations, stores and equipment closer to operational areas, thereby strengthening the responsiveness and resilience of military logistics while optimising existing national infrastructure. The initiative reflects a whole-of-government approach aligned with the vision of PM Gati Shakti.
The Indian Army has also undertaken a series of measures in recent years to improve ration quality and scales, including additional rations for Agniveer recruits and greater commonality in ration scales across the three Services. Organic rations are also proposed to be introduced.
