<h1>Government extends rice delivery and bonus eligibility to June 30, easing ~1,000 mills' Rs 50 crore holding charges</h1> The state government extended the rice delivery and bonus eligibility period from March 15 to June 30, citing delayed Rice Corporation collections, a move that will relieve about 1,000 mills of roughly Rs 50 crore in holding charges. Procurement timelines were advanced, with paddy purchases to begin September 22 instead of October 1. The government framed the adjustments as protecting farmers' interests and cited increases in the minimum support price for paddy since 2014. The measures respond to representations by the rice millers' association and aim to ease logistical and financial burdens on millers.