Ayodhya Ram temple gets FSSAI Ati Vishisht Eat Right Place of Worship rating
UPSC has already asked about this. Read the story with these questions in mind.
The Ram temple in Ayodhya has received FSSAI’s top ‘Ati Vishisht’ rating under the Eat Right Place of Worship programme, scoring 103 out of 114 for safe and hygienic prasad. FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani handed over the certificate, valid from 11 October 2026 to 10 October 2028. Five other Ayodhya shrines were also certified under BHOG.
- Score
- 103 / 114
- Rating
- Ati Vishisht (top)
- Valid
- 11 Oct 2026 – 10 Oct 2028
- Programme
- BHOG, Eat Right India
Ayodhya's FSSAI rating: what happened?
Lakhs of devotees eat prasad at Ayodhya every week. If one batch goes wrong, many people fall ill at once. That is why a food-safety rating at a temple is real news, not a formality.
- Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra scored 103/114 and got the Ati Vishisht rating (Hindustan Times; Business Standard/PTI, 11 Oct 2026).
- Certificate presented by FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani; valid 11 Oct 2026 to 10 Oct 2028.
- Five other Ayodhya places of worship, including Hanumangarhi, Kanak Bhawan, Devkali temple and a Jain temple, were also certified.
- The trust will run internal compliance checks every fortnight, along with State and Central inspections.
What are BHOG and Eat Right Place of Worship?
- BHOG: Blissful Hygienic Offering to God, an FSSAI programme under the Eat Right India movement.
- It covers prasad, bhog and langar at temples, gurudwaras, mosques and other places of worship.
- Steps: licence check, pre-audit, food handler training (FoSTaC) and a final third-party audit.
- Scoring uses a 47-parameter checklist with a maximum of 114 points.
How are the ratings graded?
| Rating | Score band |
|---|---|
| Ati Vishisht | 100–114 |
| Santoshjanak | 91–99 |
| Below 91 | Improvement and re-audit needed |
Which constitutional and legal provisions apply?
- Concurrent List Entry 18: adulteration of foodstuffs and other goods.
- Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 created FSSAI as the national food regulator.
- In UP, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (UPFSDA) enforces the Act; its officials took part in the Ayodhya programme.
- Article 47 (DPSP): duty to improve public health.
How does a temple earn the rating?
Path to Ati Vishisht
- Food licence checked
- Pre-audit of kitchen
- FoSTaC training for handlers
- Third-party audit on 47 parameters
- Score 100+ = Ati Vishisht, valid two years
Why does this matter for UPPCS?
| Angle | What to note |
|---|---|
| Culture (GS-V) | Heritage site management in Ayodhya. |
| Public health | Mass food safety at pilgrim sites. |
| Tourism | Safe food builds trust for religious tourism in UP. |
| Governance | FSSAI, UPFSDA and temple trust work together. |
What are the challenges?
- Huge crowds on festival days strain kitchen hygiene.
- Street vendors near temples sell prasad outside the certified system.
- A two-year certificate needs steady checks, not one good audit.
- Small shrines lack money and trained staff to meet the checklist.
What should be done next?
- Bring nearby prasad sellers into licence and training drives.
- Extend BHOG to Kashi, Mathura-Vrindavan and Prayagraj sites.
- Publish audit results so devotees can check.
- Use the Ayodhya model for Magh Mela and Kumbh food stalls.
What can UPPCS Prelims ask?
- BHOG: Blissful Hygienic Offering to God (FSSAI).
- Ram temple: 103/114, Ati Vishisht, valid till 10 Oct 2028.
- Ati Vishisht 100–114; Santoshjanak 91–99.
- FSS Act 2006; Concurrent List Entry 18.
- Other certified Ayodhya sites: Hanumangarhi, Kanak Bhawan, Devkali.
How to write about temple food safety in Mains (UPPCS)
Practice question (8 marks, 125 words): How can food-safety certification improve the experience of pilgrims at major religious sites in Uttar Pradesh?
- Intro: UP’s religious tourism; scale at Ayodhya.
- Body: BHOG process; 103/114 Ati Vishisht; six Ayodhya sites.
- Benefits: public health, trust, tourism.
- Challenges: crowds, vendors, upkeep.
- Conclusion: extend to other UP pilgrim circuits.
Image: Prime Minister's Office, Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India
Read all of October 2026 in the monthly UP current affairs compilation →
How to use this in Mains
If asked: Discuss the challenges of managing religious tourism in Uttar Pradesh. (UPPCS GS-V)
Quote: “The Ram temple scored 103 out of 114 and received FSSAI's Ati Vishisht rating for prasad safety.”
Use it: Your 'way forward' example: show that hygiene standards are one answer to mass crowds.
If asked: Evaluate the role of FSSAI in ensuring food safety in India. (GS-II)
Quote: “The trust will run internal compliance reviews every fortnight during the two-year validity, alongside State and Central inspections.”
Use it: Shows FSSAI working with a State body and a private trust. Good for a federalism or regulation line.
Exam angle
GS-V/VI: culture and heritage management; food safety governance in UP.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
BHOG, an FSSAI initiative, stands for
Answer (b) & explanation
Blissful Hygienic Offering to God, under Eat Right India.
Under the Eat Right Place of Worship rating, 'Ati Vishisht' is given for a score of
Answer (c) & explanation
Ati Vishisht covers 100–114; Santoshjanak 91–99.
'Adulteration of foodstuffs and other goods' falls in
Answer (c) & explanation
Concurrent List Entry 18.
Questions students ask about this
What rating did the Ram temple get?
Ati Vishisht, FSSAI's top Eat Right Place of Worship rating, with 103 of 114 points.
How long is it valid?
From 11 October 2026 to 10 October 2028.
What is BHOG?
Blissful Hygienic Offering to God, FSSAI's programme for safe prasad and langar.
Which other Ayodhya sites were certified?
Five, including Hanumangarhi, Kanak Bhawan, Devkali temple and a Jain temple.
Keep studying
facts from cited sources only; cross-checked; faculty review pending