Lok Sabha Question No. 2784 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Stock of Foodgrains
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Azad Kirti Jha, Shri Sanatan Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2784

TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 rH AUGUST, 2025

## STOCK OF FOODGRAINS

## 2784.  SHRI SANATAN PANDEY: SHRI AZAD KIRTI JHA:

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

- (a) the details of the present stock offoodgrains  in the country;
- (b) whether the said stock is sufficient  to meet the estimated internal demand of foodgrains in the country including welfare schemes beilrg run by the Government;
- (c) if  so, the details thereof and the estimated demand  of foodgrains in the country during the current year;
- (d) whether the Government  proposes to lift  the ban on exDort of food.grains; and
- (e) if so,  the details thereof and  the  steps  taken  by  thc  Government to  ensure  adequate availability  of essential  foodgri,ins and to check prIce rise in the country?

## ANSWE'R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBL,JC DIS'l--ItIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMtJBEN JAYANTIBH Al BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): The stock of foodgrains in the central Pool as on 3-o.07.2025 is 346.78 Lb'IT of Wheat and 381.59 LX4T of  Rice  against the for,deraill\_s stocking  norms of 275,80 Ll\1'F of  Wheat and 135.40 LMT  of Rice  for  July 2025 -- September 2025
- (b) and tc): The Deparlment,  of Food and Public Distribution  has made allocation of  183.8-/ J\_MT of  Wheat and 402.78 Ll':,IT of  Rice for  distribution  to the bell,3[tciaries under National Food Security Act  (TqFS\_A,) and Other WeI!:aIr Schemes (OWS)  for the year 2025.-2026. The stock available in  Central Pool is sui-Hcient  to me.:', domestic requirement llnder National Food Security ,/\ct (NFS A)  and Other "\\'GIf:UC Schemes (OWS) and Additional allocation (natura] calanrity. festival, etc.).

(d): The Government priorities food  security as enshrined under the National Food Security Act,  2013 and hence provides all means to ensure adequate stock of foodgrains inl the Central Pool.

(e): To  moderate the  nrarket  prices  ,md  enhance the  availability of  fo'Jdgrains, the Government of  India  sells  surplus food  grains (Wheat & Rice),  beyond the  public Distribution  System (PDS) and Other Welfare Schemes  (O\VS) requirements, through open sale under Open N'lwket  Sales Schemet(='enrestic) (OMSS(D)].  This  helps increase the availability of  foodgrains in the market, comroi inflation, ensure food security and make foodgrains more affordable for tIle general population. .In addition, Bharat Atta and Bharat Rice were launched on 6.11.2023 and 6.02.2024, respectively, with  a view  to provide atta (wheat nour)  imd rice to genera,1 consumers  at subsidized rates under OMS$(D)  policy.

Further, in  order to manage the overall food security-  and to  prevent boarding and unscrupdlous speculation. the L-Jovemment of India imposes stock limits  on Wheat applicable to I'radersl/Wholesalers,  Retailers,  .Big Chain Ret4ilers and Processors in all  States and Union Territories.