Lok Sabha Question No. 1699 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Price Rice of Pulses
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Rahul Kaswan

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1699

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2021

## PRICE RICE OF PULSES

1699.   SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

(OIH)

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that prices of pulses, which is the primary food of the poor in the country, is sky rocketing;
- (b) if so, details thereof;
- (c) the reasons for the failure of the Government in controlling the prices of pulses; and
- (d) the details of the steps immediately proposed by the Government to reduce the prices of pulses?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h (श्री अश्विनी क ु मार चौबे)

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (c) : The retail prices of pulses as on December, 2, 2021, have either declined or remained stable in comparison with the retail prices in the previous week, previous month and previous year, except for masur dal which has recorded an increase over the previous year.

- (d)              :  Government  takes  various  measures  from  time  to  time  to  augment  domestic  availability  and stabilize  prices  of  pulses  and  other  essential  food  commodities.  These  steps, inter-alia ,  include  releases from the buffer to cool down prices, imposition of stock limits, monitoring of stocks declared by entities to prevent hoarding as also requisite changes in trade policy instruments like rationalization of import duty, changes in import quota, restrictions on exports of the commodity etc.

In May, 2021 advisories were issued to States/UTs to monitor prices of essential food commodities and  to  ensure  disclosure  of  pulses  stocks  held  by  millers,  importers  and  traders  under  the  Essential Commodities Act, 1955.   Imposition of stock limit  on  all  pulses  except  Moong  was  notified  on  2.7.21. Thereafter, an amended order was issued on 19.7.21 imposing stock limits on four pulses, namely, Tur, Urad, Masur, Chana for a period up to 31.10.2021.

To improve availability and stabilise prices of pulses, Government has allowed import of Tur, Urad and Moong under 'Free category' w.e.f  May 15, 2021 till October 31,2021 in order to ensure smooth and seamless imports. The Free regime in respect of Tur and Urad has been extended; the last date for Bill of Lading is December 31, 2021 and for Customs clearance, it is January 31, 2022. This policy measure has been  supported  with  facilitation  measures  and  close  monitoring  of  its  implementation  by  the  concerned Departments/organisations. The import policy measures have resulted in substantial increase in import of Tur, Urad and Moong as compared to the corresponding period for the past two years. In order to soften the impact of higher international prices on domestic consumers, the government reduced the import duty on Masur from 30% to 10% from 27 th  July, 2021. To augment the availability of pulses in the market, 3 Lakh Metric  Ton  of  Chana  stock  has  been  released  between  June  and  August,  2021  and  to  curb  speculation, futures trading in Chana has been suspended from 16 th August, 2021. Supply of pulses from the buffer to State Governments has also been done on an ongoing basis for their nutrition and welfare programmes to stabilise prices.

Further,  the  Government  has  issued  advisory  to  States/UTs  to  set  up  the  State-level  Price Stabilisation  Fund  (PSF)  corpus  with  central  assistance.  Central  share  has  already  been  released  to  six States and these States have been requested to make appropriate interventions with  the fund for cooling down retail prices of essential food commodities.

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