6 February 2026·PIB

NIFTEM Centres of Excellence Supporting Food Safety and Quality Assurance

In this note

1. At a Glance

NIFTEM-Kundli (Haryana) and NIFTEM-Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu) function as designated Centres of Excellence under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), integrating R&D, education, incubation and technology transfer in food safety and quality assurance [1][2].
Backed by the Food Safety & Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI) component of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) which funds NABL-accredited food testing labs [1].
Relevant for UPSC as a convergence point of food processing, FSSAI regulation, MSME/FPO support, and export competitiveness under GS-III (economy, agriculture, S&T) [1].

PIB release dated 06 February 2026 by MoFPI highlighted NIFTEM's role as Centres of Excellence supporting food safety and quality assurance under PMKSY-FSQAI [1].
Follows Cabinet approval (2024) of total outlay of ₹6,520 crore (including additional ₹1,920 crore) for PMKSY during the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26) [3].

NIFTEM-Kundli (Haryana) established under MoFPI; IIFPT Thanjavur later upgraded/renamed as NIFTEM-Thanjavur (NIFTEM-T); both function as National Food Technology Institutes under MoFPI [2].
PMKSY launched as a Central Sector umbrella scheme for food processing infrastructure; FSQAI is one of its component schemes for food-testing lab network expansion [1].
NIFTEM-K's food quality lab notified by FSSAI as a Referral Food Laboratory [1].

Parent ministry: Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) [2].
Two institutes: NIFTEM-Kundli (Haryana) & NIFTEM-Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu, formerly IIFPT) [2].
Umbrella scheme: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) — Central Sector Scheme [3].
Component scheme: Food Safety & Quality Assurance Infrastructure (FSQAI) — finances NABL-accredited food testing labs [1].
PMKSY outlay (15th FC cycle, 2021-22 to 2025-26): ₹6,520 crore (incl. additional ₹1,920 crore) [3].
Special centre: Centre of Excellence in Non-Thermal Processing (CENTP) at NIFTEM-T — unique in Asia; works on pulsed electric fields, high pressure, UV [1][2].
Accreditation: NABL-accredited labs; FSSAI-notified Referral Food Laboratory status [1].
Training domains: GMP, HACCP, packaging, sensory science, food safety — for entrepreneurs, FPOs, SHGs, industry staff [1].

Economic

Strengthens exporter competitiveness by lowering testing turnaround and providing internationally credible (NABL) analytical services [1].
Reduces compliance cost for MSME/FPO/SHG food businesses through subsidized testing access [1].

Scientific / Technological

CENTP at NIFTEM-T pioneers non-thermal processing (pulsed electric fields, high pressure, UV) — extends shelf life while preserving nutrition [1].
Lab upgrades enable screening of pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues, mycotoxins, heavy metals, allergens, novel food ingredients [1].

Administrative / Governance

Convergence model: MoFPI funding + FSSAI regulatory notification + NABL accreditation creates a layered quality regime [1].
FSQAI plugs geographic gaps in lab network, reducing dependence on metro labs [1].

Social

Capacity building targets FPOs and SHGs — embeds smallholder producers into formal quality compliance chains [1].

06 Feb 2026 — PIB note positioning NIFTEM-K and NIFTEM-T as twin Centres of Excellence under FSQAI/PMKSY [1].
2024 — Cabinet approved revised PMKSY outlay of ₹6,520 crore for 15th FC cycle [3].
2024 — NIFTEM-K Year-End Review highlighted innovation and collaboration milestones [4].
2025 — World Food Safety Day observed at NIFTEM-K with call for grassroots innovation [5].

NIFTEM-Kundli is in Haryana; NIFTEM-Thanjavur is in Tamil Nadu [2].
Both institutes are under Ministry of Food Processing Industries (not Agriculture, not Health) [2].
FSQAI = Food Safety & Quality Assurance Infrastructure, a component of PMKSY [1].
PMKSY is a Central Sector Scheme (100% central funding), not Centrally Sponsored [3].
PMKSY outlay for 15th FC cycle = ₹6,520 crore [3].
CENTP at NIFTEM-T = Centre of Excellence in Non-Thermal Processing — claimed unique in Asia [1].
Non-thermal processing technologies include pulsed electric fields, high pressure, UV [1].
NIFTEM labs are NABL-accredited and notified by FSSAI as Referral Food Laboratory [1].
IIFPT Thanjavur was rechristened/upgraded as NIFTEM-Thanjavur [2].
Training imparted in GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) [1].

GS-III: Food processing & related industries; Issues of buffer stocks & food security; S&T applications.
GS-II: Government policies & schemes; Statutory/regulatory bodies (FSSAI).
Possible question stems:
"Examine the role of NIFTEM Centres of Excellence in strengthening India's food safety architecture under PMKSY." (GS-III)
"Discuss how NABL-accredited testing infrastructure can enhance India's agri-food export competitiveness." (GS-III)
"Evaluate the institutional convergence between MoFPI, FSSAI and NABL in the food quality assurance ecosystem." (GS-II)

PMKSY umbrella & components (Mega Food Parks, PMFME) — parent scheme [3].
FSSAI & Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 — regulatory backbone.
NABL under Quality Council of India — accreditation framework.
PLI scheme for Food Processing — complementary industrial push.
One District One Product (ODOP) under PMFME — downstream demand for testing.
Operation Greens / Codex Alimentarius — export quality interface.
APEDA — agri-export certification linkage.
PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) — beneficiary overlap.

NIFTEM is under MoFPI, NOT Ministry of Agriculture or Ministry of Health/FSSAI [2].
FSQAI is a component of PMKSY, not a standalone scheme [1].
NIFTEM-T (Thanjavur) is the former IIFPT, not a brand-new institute [2].
CENTP is at Thanjavur, not Kundli [1].
PMKSY is Central Sector, often mis-tagged as Centrally Sponsored [3].
Don't confuse NABL (accreditation) with FSSAI notification (regulatory recognition) — NIFTEM labs hold both [1].