Parliament Question: Monitoring prices of essential commodities

ORIGINAL IN HINDI GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2747 (OIH) TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2026 MONITORING PRICES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES 2747. SHRI PRADIP KUMAR VARMA: (OIH) Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: (a) the average change in retail prices of essential commodities during the last three years; (b) the amount utilised under the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF); (c) the key market interventions made to control prices; and (d) the proposed measures to ensure price stability in the coming period? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE, CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L VERMA) (a) : The all-India annual average retail prices of the 22 essential commodities monitored by Department of Consumer Affairs during last three years are at Annexure. The average retail prices of majority of the commodities in 2025 have either declined or remained stable in comparison to the prices in 2024. (b) : The amount of funds utilized under the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF), which comprise annual budgetary support and accrued sale proceeds, during last three years and current year are given below: Amount utilized under PSF Year (Rs. in crore) 2022-23 4,582.82 2023-24 11,324.41 2024-25 12,537.11 2025-26* 8,826.83 * Utilization up to 12.03.2026. The annual utilization of funds under PSF reflects the prevailing market conditions. Utilization of funds increased in 2023-24 and 2024-25 because of the high volatility in prices of pulses and onion during these years, following El Nino impact on production in 2022-23 and 2023-24, which required greater interventions. The amount of funds utilized under PSF declined in 2025-26 in comparison to the previous two years as prices have stabilized and are under control.(c) & (d) : Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) was set up in 2014-15 to tackle extreme volatility in the prices of agri-horticultural commodities. Under this scheme, dynamic buffer stocks of pulses (Tur, Urad, Moong, Masur and Gram) and Onions are maintained for strategic market interventions to ensure the availability of these essential food commodities to consumers at affordable prices. Regulated release of pulses from the buffer to augment the availability helps in cooling down the market prices, and retail sale to consumers at discounted prices ensures availability of dals at affordable prices. Market interventions through buffer stock also helps in nudging the market players lower their prices. Further, buffer stock of pulses with the government acts as deterrent against manipulative hoarding and unscrupulous speculations by market players. In case of onion, the buffer stock 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. Onions from the government buffer are released during this lean season in regulated and targeted manner to augment the market availability and stabilise the prices. ****ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2747 FOR 17.03.2026 REGARDING MONITORING PRICES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All-India annual average Retail Prices of Essential Food Commodities (Rs./kg.) Commodity 2023 2024 2025 Rice 40.72 43.95 42.77 Wheat 32.48 33.89 34.74 Atta (Wheat) 37.66 38.95 40.15 Gram Dal 76.98 88.36 87.56 Tur/Arhar Dal 132.92 157.89 125.16 Urad Dal 113.79 124.72 116.75 Moong Dal 110.51 116.73 111.24 Masoor Dal 93.12 91.97 88.72 Groundnut Oil (Packed) 191.16 190.82 192.56 Mustard Oil (Packed) 156.32 151.82 179.42 Vanaspati (Packed) 130.81 129.43 154.28 Soya Oil (Packed) 137.58 129.93 148.31 Sunflower Oil (Packed) 151.96 139.66 161.63 Palm Oil (Packed) 110.23 109.61 132.87 Potato 22.63 31.39 25.59 Onion 32.2 41.99 29.74 Tomato 43.6 44.29 35.24 Sugar 43.02 44.66 45.91 Gur 50.84 53.97 55.65 Milk (Rs./ltr.) 57.45 58.79 58.94 Tea Loose 276.79 274.89 270.51 Salt Pack (Iodised) 22.06 22.3 21.45 *****