New Delhi: The Indian Army launches ‘Bharat Rice’ on October 12 in New Delhi, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi, to improve ration quality and streamline deliveries to troops, including those deployed in remote areas of Ladakh and the Northeast. The launch also features a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Army and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to strengthen military logistics during operational contingencies.
Follow Defence Watch on LinkedIN
Spearheaded by the Army’s Directorate General of Supplies and Transport, Bharat Rice responds to sustained feedback from troops. The rice will meet prescribed defence specifications, undergo quality checks and be supplied through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) during the 2026–27 financial year. It will be procured in 10-kg and 30-kg bags to ease handling and transportation, particularly at forward posts.
Under the new arrangement, rice will be delivered directly to Army Supply Depots instead of requiring them to collect supplies from local FCI facilities. The initiative follows nearly 18 months of coordination among the Army, FCI, NAFED and the Department of Food and Public Distribution.
The five-year MoU, extendable by mutual consent, allows the Army to use identified FCI warehouses, manpower and material-handling equipment during operational contingencies. The arrangement provides a framework for additional storage, faster mobilisation and the forward positioning of essential supplies closer to operational areas.
Rajnath Singh stresses that logistics is a critical component of combat power, with storage, transportation and timely replenishment playing an important role alongside weapons and technology. He also points to lessons from Operation Sindoor, which highlight the need for resilient supply chains capable of sustaining operations when contingencies arise at short notice and continue for prolonged periods.
The initiative links improvements in troop welfare with a broader national-security objective: making military supply chains more responsive by integrating civilian infrastructure into operational logistics. It also reflects a whole-of-government approach to supporting soldiers deployed in challenging terrain.
(Defence Watch– India’s Defence News centre that places the spotlight on Defence Manufacturing, Defence Technology, Strategy and Military affairs is on Twitter. Follow us here and stay updated.)