On March 30, 2025, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy launched a new initiative in Huzurnagar to distribute free fine rice through the Public Distribution System (PDS), a first in India. This scheme aims to provide food security to 84% of the state’s population and will benefit around 3.10 crore people.

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• Telangana launches free fine rice distribution through PDS starting March 30, 2025.
• CM Revanth Reddy inaugurated the scheme in Huzurnagar on Ugadi, Telugu New Year.
• 84% of Telangana’s population (around 3.10 crore people) will receive free fine rice.
• BPL families with white ration cards will get six kilograms of fine rice per person monthly.
• 89.73 lakh white ration cards cover 2.8 crore people; new applications will increase beneficiaries to 3.10 crore.
• Government to spend Rs 10,600 crore annually for the fine rice scheme.
• Telangana is the first state in India to implement this initiative.
• Coarse rice was previously sold by beneficiaries to middlemen, causing economic losses.
• Scheme aims to curb the sale of rice to millers who resell it for profit.
• CM Revanth Reddy criticized the previous BRS government for not introducing the scheme earlier.