Lok Sabha Question No. 6039 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: Impact of West Asia Conflict on Prices of Essential Commodities
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Pushpendra Saroj

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6039

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026

## IMPACT OF WEST ASIA CONFLICT ON PRICES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES

## 6039.  SHRI PUSHPENDRA SAROJ:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  assessment  of  the  rise  in  domestic  prices  of  essential commodities following the increase in global crude oil prices due to the ongoing Iran- Israel conflict and tensions in the Gulf region and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the extent to which higher fuel and transportation costs have increased the procurement, storage and distribution expenditure of foodgrains and other commodities under the Public Distribution System;
- (c) whether the Government has reviewed the impact of fuel-driven inflation on the retail prices of pulses, edible  oils  and  other  essential  commodities  during  the  current  financial  year  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) the  number of instances where buffer stock release, Price Stabilisation Fund intervention or import duty changes were required due to fuel price shocks; and
- (e) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  protect  consumers  from  inflation  arising  from  geopolitical conflicts affecting energy prices?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE

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

(a) to (c) :  Empowered group on prices and supply of essential commodities  comprising Department of Consumer Affairs, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is one of the seven empowered groups constituted by Government to monitor and assess the impact of the West Asia situation and take necessary remedial measures. The Group monitors the availability and prices of essential commodities and deliberated the remedial measures to be taken by the Ministry/ Department concerned in order to address the issues.

The  daily  prices  of  40  essential  food  commodities  monitored  by  the  Department  of  Consumer Affairs through 578 price monitoring centres across the country are analysed and closely monitored by the Government. Prices of edible oils like sunflower oils and mustard oil recorded increasing trend on year-onyear basis while prices of pulses, foodgrains and vegetables remains largely stable.

(d) to (e) : Government maintains buffer stock of pulses and onion under Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) to tackle extreme volatility in the prices and in ensuring the availability of these essential food commodities to consumers at affordable prices. Regulated release of pulses from the buffer helps in cooling down the market prices, and retail sale to consumers at discounted prices ensures affordable prices. At present, prices of pulses are stable and procurement of Kharif and Rabi pulses for buffer stocking is ongoing for possible intervention in an event of price volatility. Buffer stock of onion plays critical role in controlling the seasonal fluctuation in  prices.  The  period  between  Rabi  and  Kharif  onion  harvests  is  associated  with  rise  in  prices  due  to  the depletion in stored Rabi onions. During 2025-26, the disposal of onions from the buffer was started from 4 th September, 2025 with retail sale at discounted prices followed subsequently, by targeted release in wholesale markets of major consumption centres across the country.

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 scenario and the indicative trends in prices of essential agri-horticultural commodities and suggests measures to enhance availability through increased domestic production and rationalisation in export-import policies.

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