Lok Sabha Question No. 5130 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Inflation Rates of Food Commodities
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Adv Gowaal Kagada Padavi

## Government of India

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5130

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.04.2025

## INFLATION RATES OF FOOD COMMODITIES

5130.   ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:

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

- (a) the inflation rate of essential food commodities during each of 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.

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## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5130 FOR 02.04.2025 REGARDING INFLATION RATES OF FOOD COMMODITIES.

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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