**Executive Summary**
This document reports on the implementation and impact of the "Bharat Dal" brand, launched in July 2023 to stabilize pulse prices and ensure availability to consumers at affordable rates. It details the distribution, pricing, and scope of Bharat Dal, which initially focused on Chana Dal and was later extended to include Moong Dal and Masoor Dal. The Bharat Dal mechanism was discontinued on April 1, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Objectives and Features of Bharat Dal:**
* Aimed to ensure the availability of essential pulses (Chana, Moong, and Masoor) at reasonable prices.
* Launched in July 2023 in response to elevated pulse prices due to the impact of El Nino.
* Involved converting Chana stock in the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) buffer into Chana Dal for retail disposal.
* **Distribution and Pricing:**
* Bharat Chana Dal was made available at subsidized rates: Rs.60 per kg (1 kg pack) and Rs.55 per kg (30 kg pack).
* Bharat Moong Dal was sold at Rs.93 per kg, and Masoor Dal at Rs.89 per kg.
* Distributed through NAFED, NCCF, Kendriya Bhandar, State Cooperatives, organized retail chains, and e-commerce platforms.
* **Sales Quantities:**
* Till September 2024, about 12.32 lakh MT of Bharat Chana Dal was sold in Phase-I.
* Additional 3 LMT of Chana stock was allocated under Bharat Dal Phase-II, selling at MRP of Rs. 70/kg (1 kg pack of Chana Dal) and Rs.58 per kg (Chana Whole).
* 1.71 LMT Chana dal and 43,901 MT of Chana whole were sold under Phase-II.
* 7142 MT of Bharat Moong Dal and 929 MT of Masoor Dal were sold.
* **Quality and Transparency:**
* A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was implemented to ensure transparency, quality, and traceability.
* Assessment of agency performance was conducted by the Quality Council of India (QCI).
* **Distribution Network:**
* Made available through government-run stores, cooperative societies, authorized private retailers, and mobile vans.
* **Discontinuation:**
* The Bharat Dal mechanism was discontinued from April 1, 2025, due to moderation in retail pulse prices.
* Currently, onions from the price stabilization buffer are being sold at discounted prices.
**Impact Analysis**
**Consumers:**
* **Impact:** Ensured availability of affordable pulses, especially for those from all socio-economic backgrounds.
* **Action Required:** No action required, as the scheme has been discontinued.
**Implementing Agencies (NAFED, NCCF, Kendriya Bhandar, State Cooperatives):**
* **Impact:** Involved in the distribution of Bharat Dal through various channels.
* **Action Required:** No action required, as the scheme has been discontinued. However, they are now involved in selling onions at discounted prices.
**Millers and Distribution Partners:**
* **Impact:** Subject to SOPs for selection, monitoring of sales, and quality control.
* **Action Required:** No action required, as the scheme has been discontinued.
**Quality Council of India (QCI):**
* **Impact:** Responsible for assessing the performance of agencies in ensuring traceability and quality.
* **Action Required:** No action required, as the scheme has been discontinued.
Key Entities Referenced
Bharat Dal: A brand under which pulses like Chana Dal, Moong Dal, and Masoor Dal were sold at subsidized rates to consumers, utilizing stock from the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF).
Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF): A fund used to stabilize prices of essential commodities, particularly pulses, by converting stock into Bharat Dal for retail disposal.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The ministry responsible for the Bharat Dal scheme and answering questions related to its implementation.
NAFED: National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India, an implementing agency for the distribution of Bharat Dal.
NCCF: National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India, an implementing agency for the distribution of Bharat Dal.
ORIGINAL IN HINDI
Government of India
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Department of Consumer Affairs
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1812 (OIH)
TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025
BHARAT DAL BRAND
1812. SHRI DEVESH SHAKYA:
SHRI NEERAJ MAURYA:
(OIH)
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC
DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:
(a) the objectives and salient features for starting the "Bharat Dal" brand and the manner in which it is
working to ensure availability of essential pulses like gram, moong and masoor at the reasonable
prices;
(b) the details of the quantity of Bharat Dal distributed in various States each year since the launch of
said brand;
(c) the regulatory measures taken by the Government to maintain transparency, quality and fair prices in
retail sales;
(d) the efforts being made to increase consumer awareness and strengthen the reach of Bharat Dal in
urban and rural areas especially in Aonla, Etah, Kasganj, Mainpuri, Kannauj, Auraiya, Bareilly,
Badaun and Shahjahanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh; and
(e) the details of the schemes proposed or implemented to increase varieties of the products and expand
the distribution network?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI B.L. VERMA)
(a) & (b) : Prices of pulses were elevated during 2023-24 and 2024-25 due to the impact of El Nino on
domestic production. In order to stabilise prices and make dals available to consumers at affordable prices,
Bharat Dal was launched in July, 2023 by converting Chana stock in the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF)
buffer into Chana dal for retail disposal. The Bharat Chana Dal was made available to consumers at
subsidized rates of Rs.60 per kg for 1 kg pack and Rs.55 per kg for 30 kg pack. Till September 2024, about
12.32 lakh MT of Bharat Chana Dal was sold to retail consumers in Phase- I of Bharat Chana Dal. Further,
additional quantity of 3 LMT of Chana stock was allocated under Bharat dal Phase-II for retail sale in Dal
form and Whole form at MRP of Rs. 70/kg for 1 kg pack of Chana Dal and Rs.58 per kg for Chana Whole.
A quantity of 1.71 LMT Chana dal and 43,901 MT of Chana whole was sold under Phase- II of Bharat
Chana Dal.
The Bharat Dal Brand was extended to include Bharat Moong Dal and Masoor Dal by converting the
stocks in the PSF buffer into Dal for retail sale to consumers. Bharat Moong Dal was sold at Rs.93 per kg
and Masoor Dal at Rs.89 per kg. About 7142 MT of Bharat Moong Dal and 929 MT of Masoor Dal were
sold to retail consumers.Bharat Dal was distributed through stationary outlet and mobile vans of the implementing agencies,
namely, NAFED, NCCF, Kendriya Bhandar and State Cooperatives, and also through organised retail
chains and e-commerce platforms all over the country.
(c) : In order to maintain transparency, quality and traceability, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
to be followed by implementing agencies in the selection of millers, monitoring of sales by distribution
partners, quality parameters, packaging etc. were prepared. Assessment of the performance of agencies in
ensuring traceability and quality of the product was conducted by Quality Council of India (QCI).
(d) : Bharat Dal was made available through an extensive network of retail outlets spread across the
country, ensuring easy availability for both urban and rural consumers. These outlets include government-
run stores, cooperative societies, and authorized private retailers, mobile vans, enabling widespread reach.
The distribution system was designed to ensure a steady supply of Bharat Dal at affordable prices, making it
convenient for consumers from all socio-economic backgrounds to purchase it without difficulty across the
country including Uttar Pradesh.
(e) : The Bharat Dal mechanism was discontinued from 1st April, 2025 considering the substantial
moderation in the retail prices of pulses. At present, onions from the price stabilisation buffer are disposed
through retail sale to consumers at discounted prices through stationary outlets and mobile vans of NAFED
and NCCF and also through open market sale in major consumption centres across the country.
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