"PMKSY's Lab Legacy: 100 New Centers to Transform Food Testing"

The government has announced the establishment of 100 NABL-accredited food testing laboratories across India in the 2025-26 financial year. Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, Ravneet Singh Bittu, stated that the ministry will provide financial support for these labs.

Inaugurating a world-class food testing laboratory at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, the Minister emphasized its role in ensuring food safety by detecting harmful contaminants and pathogens.

This initiative falls under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY), which has allocated ₹503.47 crore for 205 laboratory projects. Of these, 169 have been completed, with ₹349.21 crore disbursed. These labs will adhere to regulatory standards set by FSSAI, EIC, APEDA, and international bodies like the USFDA and EU regulations. Farmers and food producers, particularly in key sectors such as citrus fruits, dairy, sunflower oilseeds, and seafood, will benefit from these advanced facilities.

Highlighting Punjab’s progress in food processing, the Minister noted that the ministry has approved 24 cold chain projects worth ₹553 crore, three agro-processing clusters worth ₹70 crore, 16 food processing units with an investment of ₹432 crore, and 10 food testing labs costing ₹48 crore. Under PMKSY, Punjab has secured approval for 61 projects totaling ₹1,557 crore, with a ₹419 crore grant.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.