Lok Sabha Question No. 1559 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Retail Inflation
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Subbarayan K, Com. Selvaraj V

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Government of India Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1559

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2024

## RETAIL INFLATION

1559.   SHRI SUBBARAYAN K: COM. SELVARAJ V:

## 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 it is a fact that the retail inflation has surged in October to 6.2% from 5.5% in September; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the measures being taken by the Government to control the prices of essential commodities as the high food inflation has affected the common people very badly?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h (श्री बी.एल. वर्मा )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L.VERMA)

- (a) : Yes, Sir.
- (b) : The increase in retail inflation in October, 2024 is mainly on account of rise in prices of vegetables due to prolonged monsoon rains in major producing States which resulted in damage to standing crops and also higher perishability to harvested crops. Prices of agri-horticultural commodities are volatile as they are affected by factors, such as seasonality in production, adverse weather conditions, supply chain disruptions, rise in international prices etc.

Department of Consumer Affairs monitors the daily retail and wholesale prices of selected essential food  commodities,  submitted  by  the  555  price  monitoring  centres  that  have  been  set  up  with  Central assistance by the State Governments and UT Administrations across the country. The daily report of prices and indicative price trends are duly analysed for taking appropriate decisions such as release of stocks from the  buffer,  stock  disclosure  by  stockholding  entities,  imposition  of  stock  limits,  changes  in  trade  policy instruments  like  rationalisation  of  import  duty,  changes  in  import  quota,  restrictions  on  exports  of  the commodity etc.

In order to tackle the volatility in prices, the government maintains buffer stocks of pulses and onion for market interventions through calibrated and targeted release to moderate the prices in the market. As a measure of direct intervention in the retail market, part of the stock of pulses from the buffer are converted into 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. Onion from the buffer are released in a calibrated and targeted manner to moderate prices in high price consuming centres at wholesale markets  and  through  retail  outlets.  Onion  is  distributed  among  retail  consumers  at  Rs.35  per  kg  through stationary  retail  outlets  and  mobile  vans  in  major  consumption  centres.  These  measures  have  helped  in making essential food commodities such as pulses, rice, atta and onion available to consumers at affordable prices and also in stabilising the prices.

In  order  to  ensure  accessibility  and  availability  of  foodgrains  for  the  poor,  the  government  has decided to provide free foodgrains to about 81.35 crore beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana  (PMGKAY)  for  a  period  of  next  five  years  with  effect  from  1 st January,  2024,  as  per  their entitlement (i.e. 35 kg of foodgrains per month per AAY household and 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month in case of Priority Household).

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