Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Textiles and Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal recently launched the sale of rice under the ‘Bharat’ brand. This initiative aims to provide affordable and quality rice to consumers across India.
Objectives and Significance
- The aim is to ensure the availability of essential commodities at fair prices.
- The sale of ‘Bharat’ Rice contributes to the overall welfare of consumers by maintaining moderate prices.
Availability and Pricing
- ‘Bharat’ Rice is available at Kendriya Bhandar, NAFED, NCCF outlets, and e-commerce platforms.
- Packaged in family-friendly 5kg and 10kg bags, ‘Bharat’ Rice is priced at Rs. 29/kg.
Inclusion in Existing Programs
- ‘Bharat’ Rice joins other essential items like ‘Bharat’ Atta and ‘Bharat’ Dal sold through government agencies.
- These products are provided at subsidized rates to beneficiaries under various government schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
Procurement and Distribution Mechanism
- The Government procures essential commodities like wheat and rice from farmers at Minimum Support Prices (MSP) to ensure fair remuneration.
- Under PMGKAY, these commodities are distributed free of cost to PDS beneficiaries.
- Efforts are made to maintain a balance between procurement, distribution, and market availability to stabilize prices.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- Who recently launched the sale of rice under the ‘Bharat’ brand?
- A) Narendra Modi
- B) Piyush Goyal
- C) Rahul Gandhi
- D) Arvind Kejriwal
- At what maximum retail price (MRP) is ‘Bharat’ Rice sold per kilogram?
- A) Rs. 25
- B) Rs. 29
- C) Rs. 35
- D) Rs. 40
- Which scheme ensures the distribution of wheat, rice, and coarse grains/millets to Antyodaya and Priority households for five years?
- A) Bharat Anna Yojana
- B) Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
- C) National Food Security Act (NFSA)
- D) Minimum Support Price Scheme