Indian Rice Grades: The Full List
Indian rice is traded by grade, form, grain length and crop year, not by general quality descriptions. A purchase order that reads '1121 Steam, 8.35mm, 2025 crop, broken under 2%' is enforceable; one that reads 'good quality basmati' is not. This page lists every grade in commercial use and what distinguishes them.
By PingB2B·Updated 3 September 2026
1. Every grade, and what separates them
Grain length sets the price band; form and crop year determine the position within it, a difference that can exceed USD 100 per ton. Raw is the milled grain. Steam is softened under pressure to reduce breakage. White Sella is parboiled before milling, and Golden Sella is the same process with the husk colour retained. A quotation that names the grade without the form is incomplete.
Basmati and aromatic
| Grade | Length (mm) | Forms | Crop | Sells into | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1121 | 8.35 | Raw, Steam, Sella, Golden Sella | 2025 | Saudi, UAE, Iran, USA | The reference grade for basmati exports. |
| 1718 | 8.35 | Raw, Steam, Sella, Golden Sella | 2025 | Gulf | Same grain length as 1121 at a lower price; the most common substitution. |
| 1509 | 8.40 | Raw, Steam, Sella, Golden Sella | 2026 | Iraq, Gulf | Shorter cooking time and lower price. New crop reaches the market ahead of 1121. |
| 1401 | 7.70 | Steam, Sella, Golden Sella | 2025 | Iran, Iraq | Shorter grain that holds shape in biryani preparations. |
| Taj | 8.10 | Steam, Sella, Golden Sella | 2025 | Gulf | Long grain in the mid price band. |
| Pusa | 7.45 | Raw, Steam, Sella, Golden Sella | 2025 | Gulf, Africa | Used mainly in volume catering rather than retail packs. |
| Traditional | 7.30 | Raw, White Sella, Brown | 2025 | India, diaspora retail | Thin grain with pronounced aroma. Priced on ageing rather than length. |
| Sugandha | 7.90 | Raw, Steam, Sella, Golden Sella | 2025 | Gulf, Africa | Long grain outside the basmati price band. A frequent substitute where 1121 is quoted below market. |
| Sharbati | 7.10 | Sella, Golden Sella | 2025 | Africa, Gulf | Lower-priced aromatic grade. Sella forms sell in greater volume than raw. |
| RH10 | 7.40 | Steam, Sella, Golden Sella | 2025 | Africa | Lowest priced grade in the aromatic group. |
Non-basmati
| Grade | Length (mm) | Forms | Crop | Sells into | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR 11 / PR 14 | 6.90 | Raw, Steam, Sella, Golden Sella | 2025 | West Africa, Gulf catering | Approximately half the price of basmati. Used in institutional and workforce catering. |
| Parmal | 6.50 | Raw, Steam, Sella, Golden Sella | 2025 | West Africa | The lowest priced long grain still traded as long grain. |
| Sona Masoori | 5.20 | Raw, Steam | 2025 | South India, US and Gulf diaspora | Medium slender grain. Buyers in South India generally source by mill rather than by specification. |
| IR 64 | 6.20 | Raw, Parboiled | 2025 | West Africa, bulk tenders | The principal volume grade for bulk tenders. Parboiled trades in higher volume than raw, and parboiling colour is a common point of negotiation with West African buyers. |
| Swarna | 6.10 | Raw, Parboiled | 2025 | West and East Africa | Priced marginally below IR 64. |
| Broken rice | 100%, 25%, 5% | Raw, Parboiled | 2025 | West Africa, brewing, feed | Traded on broken percentage; grain length is not specified. |
Crop year affects price independently of grade. Aged rice cooks longer and drier, so 2025 crop 1121 trades above 2026 crop of the same variety. Specify the crop year on the purchase order.
Current numbers per grade and form are on the rice price page.
Sourcing IR 64, Swarna or another non-basmati grade for export? Compare non-basmati rice exporters in India.
2. India's rice grading systems
FSSAI registration is mandatory for all food sold in India. AGMARK grading is voluntary domestically but is commonly requested by overseas buyers, and a mill that has never issued an AGMARK certificate cannot produce one for a load that is already bagged. Confirm the requirement before packing. AGMARK is voluntary and almost nobody asks for it on a domestic order, then the same buyer discovers his overseas customer wants a grade certificate and the mill has never issued one. Worth asking before the load is bagged.
| System | What It Covers | Mandatory? | How To Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGMARK | Grain length, broken %, foreign matter, moisture, colour, aroma — grades rice as A, B, or C | Voluntary (mandatory for export) | AGMARK certificate from supplier or lab test report |
| FSSAI | Pesticide residue, heavy metals, aflatoxins, adulterants, microbiological safety | Mandatory for all food sold in India | FSSAI license number on packaging; lab test for specific contaminants |
3. The 6 quality parameters that determine price
Grain Length
Measured in mm. Basmati 1121: 8.30-8.45mm (Grade A), 7.95-8.30mm (Grade B). Sona Masoori: 5.0-5.5mm. Ponni: 4.5-5.0mm. Grain length is the single biggest price driver for premium varieties — each 0.5mm step changes the grade and the rate by Rs 5-15/kg.
Broken Percentage
Percentage of grains shorter than 3/4 of the average length. Premium grades (Basmati A): max 5%. Standard grades: max 10%. Broken rice (100% fragments): sold as a separate commodity at Rs 18-30/kg for animal feed, brewing, and starch processing.
Moisture Content
Measured with a moisture meter. Safe storage: under 14%. Milling optimal: 13-14%. Above 14%: risk of mold, fungus, and aflatoxin during storage and transport. Rice freshly milled in monsoon (July-September) often carries 15-16% moisture — negotiate a drying deduction or insist on dried stock.
Foreign Matter
Non-rice material: paddy grains, stones, mud, weed seeds, other grains. AGMARK Grade A allows max 0.1% foreign matter. Any visible stones or paddy in a 1 kg sample is unacceptable for premium grades. Common adulterant in commodity rice: mixing lower-grade broken rice or paddy husk.
Chalky / Immature Grains
Grains that appear opaque white rather than translucent. Caused by incomplete grain filling during crop development. High chalky % means the rice will break during cooking and produce a mushy texture. Premium Basmati should have under 2% chalky grains.
Aroma (Basmati only)
Basmati's defining characteristic. 1121 and Traditional Basmati have strong aroma; Pusa and 1509 are milder. Aroma diminishes with age — rice stored over 12 months loses fragrance. Test: rub a handful of dry grains between your palms and smell. Cooked aroma test is more reliable.
4. Sample purchase specification template
Copy this into your purchase order. A written specification is what a rejection is assessed against if the delivered load does not match.
Product: Basmati Rice, 1121 Steam
AGMARK Grade: A
Grain Length: 8.30mm minimum average
Broken Grains: Max 3%
Moisture: Max 14%
Foreign Matter: Max 0.1%
Chalky Grains: Max 2%
Packaging: 25 kg PP woven bags, double-stitched
Crop Year: 2025-26 (specify if new crop required)
Quantity: XX MT
Inspection: Buyer reserves right to inspect and reject at loading point
5. Where to get rice tested
Third-party testing costs Rs 2,000 to 5,000 and takes two to three days. On consignments above roughly Rs 5 lakh, that is a small proportion of the value at risk.
- AGMARK laboratories — government-run, Rs 500-1,000 per sample, available in most state capitals and major mandi towns. Tests physical parameters only (grain length, broken %, moisture, foreign matter).
- NABL-accredited private labs — Rs 2,000-5,000 per sample for full analysis including pesticide residue and aflatoxin. Available in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata. Results in 2-3 working days.
- In-house testing kit — Rs 5,000-15,000 setup: moisture meter (Rs 2,000), digital vernier caliper (Rs 500), precision scale (Rs 3,000), and grain sieves (Rs 1,500). Enough to catch 90% of quality issues on the spot.
Next: verify your supplier before ordering
Quality specs are worthless if the supplier ships something else. Use our 7-point verification checklist before placing any order.
Read the Supplier Verification Checklist →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between AGMARK and FSSAI grading?
AGMARK (Agricultural Mark) is a voluntary certification by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection that grades agricultural produce on quality parameters like grain length, broken percentage, and foreign matter. FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) regulates food safety — it sets maximum limits for contaminants, pesticide residues, and adulterants. AGMARK tells you about quality; FSSAI tells you about safety.
What broken percentage should I accept for premium Basmati?
AGMARK Grade A Basmati allows up to 5% broken grains. For premium restaurant/export use, specify under 3%. For general catering, 5-7% is acceptable. Anything over 10% broken is priced as a lower grade and should not carry premium pricing. Always include the broken % spec in your purchase order.
How do I test rice quality when the shipment arrives?
Take a random 1 kg sample from the middle of a bag (not the top). Check: grain length (measure 20 random grains against your spec), broken percentage (count broken grains in a 500-grain sample), moisture (use a moisture meter — should be under 14%), foreign matter (weigh any non-rice material), and aroma (for Basmati, smell a handful — should be distinct even at room temperature).
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