Food irradiation: ₹1,000 crore for 50 new units under the cold chain scheme
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What happened
- The government approved a ₹1,000 crore outlay in July 2025, including funds for 50 new food irradiation units [PIB].
- As of June 2025, 395 integrated cold chain projects were approved under the Cold Chain Scheme of PMKSY; 291 are working, with 25.52 lakh tonnes of preservation capacity [PIB].
- As of August 2025, 16 multi-product irradiation units were approved, of which 9 are operational [PIB].
Background
- Irradiation exposes food to controlled radiation to kill pests and microbes and slow sprouting. It does not make food radioactive.
Why it matters
- Post-harvest loss is a farm-income problem as much as a food-security one. Irradiation helps exports too, since several markets require it for fruit.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2025-12-02): the government approved a ₹1,000 crore outlay in July 2025, including funds for 50 new food irradiation units.
- Post-harvest loss is a farm-income problem as much as a food-security one. Irradiation helps exports too, since several markets require it for fruit.
Quotable data pointAs of June 2025, 395 integrated cold chain projects were approved under the Cold Chain Scheme of PMKSY; 291 are working, with 25.52 lakh tonnes of preservation capacity.
PIB: PIB Backgrounder: Food irradiation, 2 Dec 2025
Exam angle
UPSC
Prelims: PMKSY components. · Mains: post-harvest losses and food processing.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
Practice · UPSC
How many new food irradiation units are funded under the July 2025 approval?
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB.
Practice · UPSC
The Cold Chain Scheme is a component of
Answer (a) & explanation
PIB.
Practice · UPSC
Operational multi-product irradiation units as of Aug 2025
Answer (a) & explanation
PIB.
Go deeper
Official source: PIB: PIB Backgrounder: Food irradiation, 2 Dec 2025
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending