New Delhi, July 31: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday approved a total outlay of ₹6,520 crore for the ongoing Central Sector Scheme — Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) — for the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021–22 to 2025–26). This includes an additional allocation of ₹1,920 crore.
A key part of this funding includes ₹1,000 crore earmarked for the establishment of 50 Multi-Product Food Irradiation Units under the Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (ICCVAI) component. Another portion of the funding will support the creation of 100 NABL-accredited Food Testing Laboratories (FTLs) under the Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI) component, aligning with the Union Budget announcement.
In addition, nearly ₹920 crore will be used to sanction projects under various PMKSY sub-schemes during the current finance cycle. Both ICCVAI and FSQAI are demand-driven schemes, and project approvals will follow a structured evaluation process based on guidelines.
The Ministry will invite Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from eligible entities across India. Submitted proposals will undergo screening and be approved according to the scheme's eligibility criteria.
The proposed 50 food irradiation units are expected to create a total food preservation capacity of 20–30 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) per annum, depending on the types of food processed. Meanwhile, the 100 private-sector FTLs are intended to strengthen food safety infrastructure by providing advanced testing capabilities, ensuring adherence to food quality standards and the delivery of safe food products to consumers.
