Rice, a staple food for over half the world?s population, is inherently low in essential micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, vitamin B12, zinc, and vitamins A and D. Regular consumption of polished rice contributes to hidden hunger, anemia, malnutrition, and poor maternal and child health, particularly in vulnerable populations. Rice fortification?through coating grains with micronutrient premix or blending extruded fortified kernels?offers a cost-effective, scalable, and accessible solution to address these deficiencies. In India, the Fortified Rice Program under schemes like PMGKAY and PDS has demonstrated improvements in anemia reduction, child growth, cognitive development, immunity, and maternal-infant health while generating employment across the rice fortification value chain. Future strategies include integration with biofortification, advanced fortification technologies, public awareness campaigns, and public-private partnerships to enhance reach and effectiveness. Fortified rice represents a sustainable intervention to combat malnutrition, improve health outcomes, and promote socio-economic development.