Kerala Food Department Clarifies No Price or Quantity Changes in Ration Rice The Kerala Food Department has officially stated that there have been no changes to the price or quantity of ration rice distributed to citizens. The department refuted claims circulating in the media that the price of rice had been increased from ₹10.90 to ₹26, calling such reports false. The department emphasized that the price of ration rice remains unchanged, and any allegations of price hikes are unfounded. The clarification comes amid concerns about the availability of rice under the Centre’s Tide Over allocation scheme. According to the Food Department, there has been a reduction of over 6,459 metric tonnes in rice availability since January 2026. This shortage was attributed to the previous government’s decision to reduce the allocation of rice and instead increase the procurement of wheat. The department explained that the special rice allocation for festivals, which was previously sourced from the Tide Over allocation, was replaced by wheat due to the reduced rice supply. To address the shortage, the Food Department implemented additional measures to ensure the availability of rice during festive periods. These measures included the procurement of rice at a higher price of ₹23.20 under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) to supplement the regular ration supply. The department also highlighted that a total of 1,65,932 metric tonnes of rice and 24,506 metric tonnes of wheat were distributed through the public distribution system in August 2026, ensuring that the demand for essential grains was met. The department further clarified that the reduction in rice availability under the Tide Over allocation scheme was a result of the previous government’s policy adjustments.#kerala_government #public_distribution_system #kerala_food_department #tide_over_allocation_scheme #open_market_sale_scheme
