NEW DELHI: In a major step toward enhancing soldier welfare and fortifying military supply chains, the Indian Army officially launched ‘Bharat Rice’ for the defense forces during a ceremony in New Delhi on October 12, 2026. Graced by Union Defence Minister (Raksha Mantri) Rajnath Singh and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi, the event also marked the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Army and the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Under the new protocol, superior-quality rice milled to defense specifications will be supplied through NAFED in ergonomic 10 kg and 30 kg bags directly to Army Supply Depots—including high-altitude posts in Ladakh and the North East—streamlining forward transport and operational readiness.
The five-year MoU with FCI provides a formal framework for the Indian Army to utilize FCI’s national warehousing infrastructure, modern silos, material-handling equipment, and trained labor during operational contingencies. Highlighting lessons from Operation Sindoor, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh emphasized that modern warfare demands logistics resilience, noting that supply chain strength and dual-use infrastructure embody a ‘Whole-of-Nation’ approach aligned with PM Gati Shakti. Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Secretary (Food & Public Distribution) Sanjeev Chopra, and senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, NAFED, and the cooperative sector were present. The initiative builds on broader army measures to enhance ration quality, including increased scales for Agniveer recruits and plans for organic rations.
