Lok Sabha Question No. 5110 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Inflation Rate of Essential Food Commodities
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Dr. Kirsan Namdeo

## Government of India

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5110

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.04.2025

## INFLATION RATE OF ESSENTIAL FOOD COMMODITIES

## 5110.  DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a) the year-wise inflation rate of essential food commodities during the last three years;
- (b) the measures taken to control food price volatility particularly for pulses, wheat and edible oils;
- (c) whether any new mechanisms have been introduced to improve supply chain efficiency and prevent hoarding; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE

## CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L. VERMA)

(a)  :   Food inflation measured by year-on-year percentage variation in Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) during last  three  years  as  published  by  Ministry  of  Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation  is  given  at Annexure .

(b)  :  Government keeps a close watch on the production and availability of essential commodities through regular reviews by the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC). The Committee reviews, on regular basis, the situation  of  prices  and  price  trends  of  essential  agri-horticulture  commodities  and  suggests  measures  to enhance availability through increased domestic production and through imports.

In order to tackle the volatility in prices, government maintains buffer stocks of pulses and onion for market interventions through calibrated and targeted release to moderate the prices in the market. Part of the stock of pulses from the buffer are converted to dals for retail sale to the consumers at affordable  prices under the Bharat Dal brand. Similarly, atta and rice are distributed to retail consumers under Bharat brand at subsidized  prices.  To  manage  the  overall  food  security  and  to  prevent  hoarding  and  unscrupulous speculation, Government imposed stock limits on wheat till 31 st March 2025. In addition, Government has, since  April,  2024,  allocated  30  lakh  tonnes  of  wheat  for  sale  in  open  market  under  Open  Market  Sale Scheme (Domestic) to control wheat prices. The international and domestic prices of edible oils are closely monitored for taking necessary policy interventions to keep the prices affordable while keeping in mind the interest of domestic farmers and edible oil industry. To augment domestic availability of pulses and control price volatility, Government allowed import of Tur and Urad under 'Free' category till 31 st March, 2026. Duty free  import  of  Chana  has  been  allowed  till  31 st March,  2025  to  augment  domestic  availability  and control prices. Further, to augment the overall availability of pulses, duty free import of Yellow Peas has also been allowed till 31 st May, 2025. In order to manage the overall food security of the country and to support the needs of the neighbouring and other vulnerable countries, Government has amended the export policy  of  wheat  from  'free'  to  'prohibited'  category  on  13 th May  2022  for  restricting  export  of  Indian Durum Wheat.

(c)  &  (d)  :    Department  of  Consumer  Affairs  developed  stock  disclosure  portal  to  monitor  the  stock  of pulses  with  various  entities  and  discourage  hoarding.  State  Governments  have  been  advised  to  ensure disclosure  of  stocks  by  various  entities  like  traders,  dealers,  importers,  millers,  stockists  and  big  chain retailers  under  the  Essential  Commodities  Act,  1995  through  online  stock  disclosure  portal.  Similarly, Department  of  Food  and  Public  Distribution  has  advised  State  Governments  to  ensure  the  disclosure  of stock in respect of wheat by various entities.

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (A)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5110 FOR 02.04.2025 REGARDING INFLATION RATE OF ESSENTIAL FOOD COMMODITIES.

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## Food inflation rate measured by year-on-year percentage variation in Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI)

(in percentage)

| Month     |   2022-23 |   2023-24 | 2024-25   |
|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| April     |      8.31 |      3.84 | 8.70      |
| May       |      7.97 |      2.96 | 8.69      |
| June      |      7.75 |      4.55 | 9.36      |
| July      |      6.69 |     11.51 | 5.42      |
| August    |      7.62 |      9.94 | 5.66      |
| September |      8.6  |      6.62 | 9.24      |
| October   |      7.01 |      6.61 | 10.87     |
| November  |      4.67 |      8.7  | 9.04      |
| December  |      4.19 |      9.53 | 8.39      |
| January   |      6    |      8.3  | 6.02      |
| February  |      5.95 |      8.66 | 3.75      |
| March     |      4.79 |      8.52 |           |

Source: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

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