Parliament Question: Price of Food Items

ORIGINAL IN HINDI Government of India Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3999 (OIH) TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2026 PRICE OF FOOD ITEMS 3999. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR: (OIH) Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a) whether there has been an abnormal increase in the prices of food items and essential daily commodities in the country; (b) if so, the steps being taken by the Government to check the same; (c) whether the general public of the country is greatly distressed by this rising inflation and facing difficulties in meeting household dietary requirements; (d) whether the prices of sugar have reached record highs in the country; (e) whether the Government proposes to take any steps to promote domestic sugar consumption, as rising sugar prices have a direct impact on consumers; and (f) the details of sugar production along with sugar exports during the last three years? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L.VERMA) (a) to (c) : Department of Consumer Affairs monitors the daily prices of 41 essential food commodities submitted by the 579 price monitoring centres across the country. Prices of essential food items like cereals, pulses, potato etc. are largely stable in comparison to the prices last year. The daily report of prices and indicative price trends are duly analysed for taking appropriate decisions such as release of stocks from the buffer, mandatory disclosure by stockholding entities, imposition of stock limits etc. to stabilise the volatility in prices of essential commodities. 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. (d) : Sugar prices in the country are showing upward trends since June 2026. As on 06.08.2026, average all India retail price of sugar in the country is around Rs. 50.14/- per kg, which was Rs. 45.51 /- per kg during the previous 2024-25 Sugar Season (Oct-Sept).(e) : Government’s priority is to ensure sufficient availability of sugar for consumption in the domestic market at a reasonable price. As such, Government is consistently monitoring ex-mill and retail prices of the sugar and to maintain sufficient sugar for domestic consumption, Central Government has prohibited sugar export w.e.f. 13.05.2026. Further, stock holding limit of 400 tonnes has been imposed on sugar dealers across the country with effect from 01.08.2026, and the said Order shall remain in force until 30.11.2026. (f) : The details of sugar production and sugar export during last 3 Sugar Seasons is under: Sugar Season (Oct-Sept) Net sugar production (in Lakh MT) Export (in Lakh MT) 2022-23 330 63 2023-24 320 1 2024-25 261 9 *****