CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: CNN Central News and Network – ITDC India ePress / ITDC News, Bhopal. New Delhi. The Indian Army has launched the ‘Bharat Chawal’ initiative with the objective of providing better quality rations to personnel of the defence forces. The scheme has been prepared on the basis of continuous suggestions and feedback received from soldiers. The initiative was launched in New Delhi on October 12, 2026, in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi. Its main objective is to provide soldiers with rice of prescribed quality and make the supply of rations to remote military stations easier.
Prepared on the basis of soldiers’ suggestions, the ‘Bharat Chawal’ initiative is being implemented under the leadership of the Army’s Directorate General of Supplies and Transport. Under it, rice milling will be carried out according to the standards prescribed for the defence forces. Mandatory checks will be conducted to ensure the quality of the rice so that it is free from foreign matter and impurities. In addition, emphasis will be placed on keeping the quantity of broken, damaged and discoloured grains to a minimum.
Under this initiative, rice supply in the financial year 2026-27 will be carried out through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India. The rice will be made available in 10 kg and 30 kg packets, making the transport and maintenance of rations easier, particularly at forward military posts.
A key feature of the scheme is that rations will reach military stations in Ladakh and the Northeast. The rice will be delivered directly to Army supply depots, including military stations located in remote areas of Ladakh and the Northeast. Earlier, Army depots had to collect rations from local Food Corporation of India centres. The new arrangement is expected to reduce the time involved in the process and transportation-related difficulties.
On the same occasion, a memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Indian Army and the Food Corporation of India. Under it, the Army will be able to use identified warehouses, labour resources and material-handling equipment of the Food Corporation of India when required. This arrangement will help strengthen logistics supply during military operations and emergency situations. The agreement has been signed for five years and can be extended with the consent of both sides.
Rajnath Singh described soldiers’ nutrition as important. The Defence Minister said the operational efficiency of soldiers does not depend only on weapons and modern equipment, but that their physical health, mental balance, morale and endurance also play an important role. For personnel deployed in difficult geographical conditions, quality food and timely availability of rations are essential.
He described the initiative as a relationship of trust between farmers and soldiers and linked it to the spirit of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’. According to him, grain produced through the hard work of farmers contributes to strengthening the soldiers who protect the country’s borders.
The move is aimed at strengthening the military supply system. According to the Ministry of Defence, the strategic experiences from ‘Operation Sindoor’ have underlined the need to strengthen the supply chain and make essential resources available in a short time. The use of the Food Corporation of India’s existing infrastructure for military requirements is an important step in this direction. The Bharat Chawal initiative and the agreement with the Food Corporation of India are focused on providing better rations to soldiers as well as increasing the capacity of the military logistics system in emergency situations. This is expected to make it easier to deliver essential food items to personnel deployed in remote areas.
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