Indian non-Basmati rice varieties are widely used across various culinary applications both in India and internationally due to their diverse grain types, flavors, and textures. Here are some of the common usages of non-Basmati rice:
Culinary Applications

Daily Meals:
Sona Masoori: Known for its lightweight and aromatic qualities, it is commonly used for everyday cooking in South Indian households. It is ideal for plain rice dishes and making traditional South Indian recipes like lemon rice and tamarind rice.
IR64 and IR8: These varieties are often used for everyday meals due to their affordability and ease of cooking. They are typically used for steaming and making simple rice dishes.

Idli and Dosa Batter:
Parboiled Rice: Non-Basmati varieties like parboiled rice are widely used in making idli and dosa batter. Parboiled rice helps in fermenting the batter properly, resulting in soft and fluffy idlis and crispy dosas.

Pulao and Fried Rice:
Jeerakasala and Ponni Rice: These short-grain varieties are often used for making flavorful pulaos and fried rice. They absorb flavors well and have a pleasing texture that complements these dishes.

Sweets and Desserts:
Gobindobhog Rice: This aromatic variety from West Bengal is used in making traditional Bengali sweets like Payesh (rice pudding). Its sticky texture and sweet aroma enhance the flavor of desserts.

Biryanis:
Seeraga Samba: In Tamil Nadu, this small-grain rice is preferred for making biryanis, especially the famous Dindigul Biryani. It absorbs spices well and has a distinct flavor that complements biryani recipes.

Rice Flour:
Non-Basmati rice varieties are also ground into rice flour, which is used for making a variety of Indian snacks and sweets such as Murukku, Sev, and various types of Indian bread like Akki Rotti.
Industrial and Commercial Uses

Brewing:
Some non-Basmati rice varieties are used in the brewing industry to produce certain types of beers and liquors, particularly in Asia.

Animal Feed:
Broken rice, a byproduct of non-Basmati rice milling, is commonly used as animal feed due to its high nutritional value.

Rice Bran Oil:
The bran layer removed during the milling of non-Basmati rice is used to extract rice bran oil, which is valued for its health benefits and is used in cooking and industrial applications.