Explanation:

• Recently, to initiate the process of taking the country towards nutritional security, the Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) has been running a “Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on Fortification of Rice & its distribution through Public Distribution System”. Hence statement 1 is correct.

• The Pilot Scheme has been approved for a period of three years beginning 2019-2020 with a total budget outlay of Rs.174.6 Crore. Fifteen State Governments have identified their respective districts (1 district per state) for implementing the Pilot Scheme.

• Already 5 states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh have started the distribution of fortified rice in their respective identified districts. Special focus would be placed on supplying fortified rice to the 112 specially identified Aspirational Districts of the country.

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has revealed plans to make fortification mandatory for edible oil and milk but has not made it mandatory yet. The Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) is mulling over making fortification in edible oil with Vitamin A and D mandatory, in a bid to combat the malnutrition challenges including micronutrient deficiencies in India. In 2018, the regulator had set standards for fortification for five category of staples which includes wheat flour and rice (with iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid), milk and edible oil (with Vitamins A and D) and double fortified salt (with iodine and iron). The fortification norms are currently voluntary. In addition, it is intensifying its focus on local staples such as rice, wheat and salt. Hence statement 2 is not correct.

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) releases the STATE FOOD FORTIFICATION INDEX for different states and union territories of India. As per the recently released report Andhra Pradesh ranks first. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Hence the correct option is B.