The Centre has decided to increase marginally the cash subsidy on rice to 25 rupees 17 paisa per kg to be given through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to PDS beneficiaries for the 2016-17 marketing year starting next month. <br/><br/>Currently the Rice subsidy is 24 rupees 50 paise per kilogram. Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today met Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and raised the issue of lower food subsidy given at present.<br/><br/>Later Mr Paswan told reporters in New Delhi that the Centre has already worked out the subsidy amount on Rice and it will be notified soon. <br/><br/>Mr Paswan added that a subsidy of 17 rupees 6 paise per kg is being given on wheat through DBT in 2016-17 and will be revised in March next year. <br/><br/>Puducherry was the first to roll out DBT of food subsidy under the National food security Law. The other two Union Territories were Chandigarh and Daman and Diu.