**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers to the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1261, addressed on February 6, 2026. It outlines the measures taken by the Government of India to ensure the timely supply, fair pricing, and quality control of fertilizers for farmers across the country, including the Sambhal district in Western Uttar Pradesh. The document contains statistical data on fertilizer availability, sales, and stock positions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Fertilizer Availability and Monitoring:**
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) assesses State-wise and month-wise fertilizer requirements in consultation with State Governments before each cropping season.
* The Department of Fertilizers allocates adequate quantities to States based on DA&FW projections, issuing monthly supply plans and continuously monitoring availability.
* The movement of major subsidized fertilizers is monitored via the Integrated Fertilizer Management System (iFMS).
* State Governments are advised to coordinate with manufacturers and importers for timely supplies.
* **Fertilizer Availability in the Rabi 2025-26 Season:**
* The availability of Urea, DAP, MOP, and NPKS fertilizers has remained adequate across the States during the ongoing Rabi 2025-26 season.
* The district-level distribution is managed by the concerned State Government.
* Data on availability, sales, and stock positions of fertilizers, including data specifically for Sambhal district, is provided for the FY 2025-26.
* **Urea Subsidy Scheme and Pricing:**
* Urea is supplied under the Urea Subsidy Scheme at a statutorily notified Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of Rs. 242 per 45 kg bag.
* The difference between the delivered cost of Urea and the net market realization by urea units is subsidized by the Government of India.
* **Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Policy for P&K Fertilizers:**
* P&K fertilizers are covered under Open General License (OGL), allowing companies to import/manufacture based on their business dynamics.
* NBS subsidy is provided on notified P&K fertilizers on its PoS sale during the season, depending on nutrient content.
* Volatility in international prices is considered when fixing NBS rates to ensure affordability.
* Additional provisions are in place to make DAP available at Rs. 1,350 per 50 kg bag, including coverage of 'Other Costs' and a reasonable return for manufacturers.
* **Quality Control and Enforcement:**
* Fertilizers are declared essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and Fertilizer Control Order, 1985, empowering State Governments to act against malpractices like overpricing and black-marketing.
* The Fertilizer Control Order (FCO)-1985 lays down fertilizer-wise specifications, prohibiting the sale of substandard fertilizers.
* State Governments are the enforcement agencies for FCO provisions.
* CFQCTI and its regional laboratories analyze fertilizer samples.
* Violations of the fertilizer control order can result in penal and administrative action.
* The Department of Fertilizers recovers subsidy amounts from companies supplying non-standard fertilizers.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Farmers**
* **Impact:** Ensuring timely and adequate availability of fertilizers at fair prices and of good quality. Subsidies on Urea and P&K fertilizers aim to make them affordable. Enforcement measures protect them from malpractices and substandard products.
* **Action Required:** Farmers should be aware of the subsidized prices, and report any instances of overpricing, black-marketing or sub-standard products to the State Government authorities for action.
**Stakeholder: State Governments**
* **Impact:** Responsible for assessing fertilizer requirements, coordinating supply, and enforcing quality control measures. They must act against malpractices and ensure the distribution of fertilizers at the district level.
* **Action Required:** State Governments need to conduct regular inspections, analyze samples, and take action against violations of the Fertilizer Control Order. They also need to streamline supplies through timely placement of indents and address complaints related to overpricing or black-marketing.
**Stakeholder: Fertilizer Manufacturers/Importers**
* **Impact:** Subject to regulations regarding quality control, pricing, and distribution. They receive subsidies and must adhere to the Fertilizer Control Order. Face recovery of subsidy amounts for non-standard fertilizers.
* **Action Required:** Manufacturers/importers must ensure that their fertilizers meet the specified quality standards and sell them at the regulated prices. They should coordinate with State Governments to streamline supplies.
**Stakeholder: Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for assessing the fertilizer requirements of the States in consultation with State Governments.
* **Action Required:** Project the state-wise and month-wise requirement of fertilizers.
**Stakeholder: Department of Fertilizers**
* **Impact:** Responsible for allocating adequate quantities of fertilizers to States and monitoring availability. Also implements the subsidy schemes.
* **Action Required:** Allocate adequate quantities to States by issuing monthly supply plans and continuously monitor the availability.
Key Entities Referenced
Fertilizer Control Order (FCO)-1985: Lays down fertilizer-wise detailed specifications to ensure good quality fertilizers are available to farmers.
Nutrient Based Subsidy Policy: Provides subsidy on phosphatic and potassic fertilizers to ensure availability of fertilizers to farmers at affordable prices.
Essential Commodities Act,1955: Used to declare fertilizers as essential commodities, empowering State Governments to take action against malpractices like overpricing/black-marketing.
Urea Subsidy Scheme: Ensures the availability of Urea at affordable prices by providing a subsidy to the Urea manufacturer/importer.
Department of Fertilizers: Allocates adequate quantities of fertilizers to States by issuing monthly supply plans.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1261 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 06.02.2026
Quality and Price Control of Fertilizers
1261: SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that farmers are facing issues related to
availability, pricing and quality of fertilizers across the country, State/district-wise
including Sambhal district in Western Uttar Pradesh; and
(b) if so, the measures taken/proposed to be taken to ensure timely supply, fair
pricing and quality control of fertilizers for farmers?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) and (b) Following steps are taken by the Government every season for ensuring
timely and adequate availability of fertilizers in the country, including the State of Uttar
Pradesh:
(i) Before the commencement of each cropping season, Department of
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), in consultation with all the State
Governments, assesses the State-wise & month-wise requirement of fertilizers.
(ii) On the basis of requirement projected by DA&FW, D/o Fertilizers allocates
adequate quantities of fertilizers to States by issuing monthly supply plan and
continuously monitors the availability.
(iii) The movement of all major subsidized fertilizers is monitored throughout the
country by an on-line web-based monitoring system called integrated Fertilizer
Management System (iFMS).
(iv) The State Governments are regularly advised to coordinate with
manufacturers and importers for streamlining the supplies through timely placement
of indents.-2-
The availability of fertilizers viz. Urea, DAP, MOP & NPKS has remained adequate
across the States during the ongoing Rabi 2025-26 season. The information
regarding requirement, availability, sales and closing stock of these fertilizers in the
States, including the State of Uttar Pradesh, during the ongoing Rabi 2025-26 season
is placed at Annexure-A.
However, the distribution of fertilizers within the State at district level is done by the
concerned State government.
Further, as per information received from the State Government of Uttar Pradesh, the
availability of fertilizers viz. Urea, DAP and NPKS in Sambhal district has remained
adequate during the FY 2025-26. The information regarding availability, sales and
stock position of these fertilizers in Sambhal district for the period 01.04.2025 to
31.01.2026 is as under:
(Qty. in MT)
S. Fertilizer Availability Sale Stock
No.
1 Urea 1,68,554 1,54,549 14,005
2 DAP 26,939 23,253 3,686
3 NPK 55,740 43,451 12,289
Moreover, in order to ensure the availability of Urea at affordable prices, Urea is
supplied under the Urea Subsidy Scheme at a statutorily notified Maximum Retail
Price (MRP). The MRP of 45 kg bag of Urea is Rs. 242 per bag (exclusive of charges
towards neem coating and taxes as applicable). The difference between the delivered
cost of Urea at farm gate and net market realization by the urea units is given as
subsidy to the Urea manufacturer/importer by the Government of India. Accordingly,
all farmers are being supplied Urea at the subsidized rate.
Further, for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers, the Government has
implemented Nutrient Based Subsidy Policy w.e.f. 01.04.2010. Under NBS policy,
P&K fertilizers are covered under Open General License (OGL) and companies are
free to import / manufacture these fertilizers as per their business dynamics. The NBS
subsidy is provided to manufacturer / importer on notified P&K fertilizers on its PoS
sale during the season, depending on their nutrient content to ensure availability of
fertilizers to farmers. The volatility in international prices of key fertilizers and raw
materials is considered while fixing NBS rates for P&K fertilizers so that fertilizers
remain affordable to the farmers
In addition, to make DAP available at affordable price of Rs. 1,350 per 50 kg bag,
special provisions like Rs. 3,500 per MT to cover ‘Other Costs’ which includes costs
incurred from factory gate to farm gate, advantage/disadvantage due to
increase/decrease in international prices, provision for GST component included in the
MRP and provision for reasonable return @4% of net MRP (MRP-GST) have been-3-
extended to both imported and domestic DAP and imported TSP over and above NBS
subsidy for Rabi 2025-26 season to keep the prices of fertilizers stable.
Moreover, in order to address the issue of overpricing/black-marketing, fertilizers are
declared as an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities Act,1955 and
notified under Fertilizer Control Order, 1985. State Governments are empowered to
take action against persons involved in said malpractices, as per provisions of EC Act.
Any complaints received at Department of Fertilizers level regarding these
malpractices is sent to concerned State Government to take appropriate action under
Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and Fertilizer Control Order, 1985.
Besides, for ensuring adequate availability of good quality fertilizers to the farmers,
Fertilizer Control Order (FCO)-1985 has laid down fertilizer-wise detailed
specifications. Any fertilizer, not meeting the said specifications, cannot be sold in the
country for agricultural purpose. Clause 19 of FCO strictly prohibits the sale or
manufacture of fertilizers which are not of prescribed standards. Any sale of
substandard/fake/adulterated fertilizers is punishable under Essential Commodities
Act, 1955. The State Governments are the enforcement agencies and are adequately
empowered to enforce the provisions of FCO. Every sample drawn by Inspector is
analysed as per the methods of analysis given in FCO in a Laboratory notified by
Central/State Government. CFQCTI, a subordinate office of INM Division DA&FW has,
4 laboratories viz. Central Fertilizer Quality Control & Training Institute (CFQC&TI) and
its three Regional Fertilizer Control Laboratories (RFCLs) located at Navi Mumbai,
Chennai and Kalyani. Any violation of fertilizer control order invokes both penal action
of punishment from 3 month to 7 years and administrative action of cancellation/
Suspension of authorization letter. Accordingly, the details regarding enforcement
measures taken by the States, as informed by them, from 01.04.2025 to 31.01.2026,
to check overpricing and sales of sub-standard fertilizers is placed at Annexure-B.
Furthermore, whenever any case of non-standard fertilizer is reported by the
State/UT’s Agriculture Department, D/o Fertilizers recovers the subsidy amount from
the pending subsidy claims of the concerned fertilizer company immediately, as per
the applicable procedure.
*******Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No 1261 for answering on 06.02.2026 Annexure- A
STATE WISE FERTILIZERS AVAILABILITY POSITION FOR RABI 2025-26 (TILL 02/02/26)
fig. in LMT
UREA DAP MOP NPKS
Pro rata Cumulative Pro rata Cumulative Pro rata Cumulative Pro rata Cumulative
Availability Availability Availability Availability
S.No State Requirement DBT Sales Closing Stock Requirement DBT Sales Closing Stock Requirement DBT Sales Closing Stock Requirement DBT Sales Closing
Requirement From Requirement From Requirement From Requirement From
From From as on From From as on From From as on From From Stock as
RABI 2025-26 01/10/25 to RABI 2025-26 01/10/25 to RABI 2025-26 01/10/25 to RABI 2025-26 01/10/25 to
01/10/25 to 01/10/25 to 02/02/26 01/10/25 to 01/10/25 to 02/02/26 01/10/25 to 01/10/25 to 02/02/26 01/10/25 to 01/10/25 to on
02/02/26 02/02/26 02/02/26 02/02/26 02/02/26 02/02/26 02/02/26 02/02/26 02/02/26 02/02/26 02/02/26 02/02/26 02/02/26
1 Andaman and Nicobar 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2 Andhra Pradesh 9.38 6.87 8.58 7.21 1.38 2.20 1.95 3.43 2.55 0.88 1.00 0.70 1.14 0.62 0.52 9.50 7.67 10.70 7.14 3.56
3 Arunachal Pradesh 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
4 Assam 1.65 1.17 1.72 1.38 0.34 0.28 0.21 0.64 0.34 0.30 0.36 0.27 0.31 0.12 0.19 0.35 0.26 0.29 0.15 0.13
5 Bihar 13.50 10.93 12.48 10.86 1.61 3.90 3.61 5.57 4.00 1.57 1.50 1.40 1.64 1.19 0.44 3.50 3.36 5.23 3.12 2.10
6 Chandigarh 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
7 Chhattisgarh 2.88 2.61 2.89 1.46 1.42 1.00 0.96 1.79 0.73 1.06 0.50 0.40 0.49 0.08 0.41 0.60 0.50 1.19 0.22 0.96
8 Dadra and Nagar 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
9 Daman and Diu 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
10 Delhi 0.15 0.12 0.11 0.09 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00
11 Goa 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
12 Gujarat 13.90 11.30 12.41 11.03 1.38 2.90 2.42 3.06 2.39 0.68 0.64 0.54 0.71 0.45 0.26 4.50 3.83 4.68 3.05 1.65
13 Haryana 11.60 10.06 12.02 10.38 1.64 2.70 2.60 3.21 2.40 0.81 0.30 0.20 0.32 0.11 0.21 1.20 1.01 0.50 0.23 0.28
14 Himachal Pradesh 0.33 0.29 0.51 0.32 0.19 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.26 0.23 0.22 0.12 0.09
15 Jammu and kashmir 0.68 0.28 0.70 0.34 0.36 0.24 0.15 0.34 0.13 0.20 0.13 0.03 0.11 0.01 0.10 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00
16 Jharkhand 1.20 0.91 1.30 0.85 0.45 0.25 0.25 0.55 0.38 0.16 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.01 0.02 0.30 0.24 0.43 0.19 0.24
17 Karnataka 7.60 5.18 7.76 4.73 3.03 1.98 1.46 2.83 1.56 1.27 0.97 0.67 1.32 0.66 0.66 7.20 5.05 10.44 5.25 5.19
18 Kerala 0.62 0.51 0.55 0.41 0.15 0.08 0.07 0.16 0.08 0.07 0.50 0.39 0.47 0.30 0.16 0.61 0.50 0.79 0.52 0.27
19 Lakshadweep 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
20 Madhya Pradesh 23.00 22.52 24.34 22.17 2.18 7.50 7.02 6.88 5.48 1.40 1.00 0.81 0.95 0.52 0.43 11.50 10.54 7.49 4.85 2.65
21 Maharashtra 11.25 8.22 12.06 8.20 3.86 2.60 2.02 3.67 1.95 1.72 1.50 1.07 1.50 0.66 0.84 12.00 9.23 16.89 7.99 8.91
22 Manipur 0.09 0.06 0.07 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.05 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01
23 Meghalaya 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
24 Mizoram 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
25 Nagaland 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
26 Odisha 1.90 1.06 2.20 0.88 1.32 0.75 0.48 1.14 0.38 0.76 0.25 0.15 0.35 0.09 0.26 0.90 0.52 1.32 0.35 0.96
27 Puducherry 0.08 0.06 0.06 0.05 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.04 0.05 0.03 0.02
28 Punjab 15.00 13.07 16.01 12.82 3.19 4.50 4.31 5.47 3.72 1.76 0.60 0.41 0.63 0.24 0.39 1.50 1.40 0.94 0.58 0.37
29 Rajasthan 15.00 13.97 17.34 15.71 1.64 3.33 3.23 4.27 3.54 0.73 0.10 0.08 0.14 0.08 0.06 1.50 1.42 1.68 1.11 0.57
30 Sikkim 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
31 Tamil Nadu 6.50 4.97 6.05 4.77 1.29 1.55 1.26 1.89 1.25 0.64 1.80 1.38 1.26 0.80 0.47 5.14 4.01 5.57 3.69 1.89
32 Telangana 10.40 7.31 8.41 7.27 1.15 1.45 1.16 2.22 1.76 0.46 0.65 0.46 0.81 0.29 0.53 7.00 4.84 7.43 4.50 2.93
33 Tripura 0.10 0.06 0.11 0.04 0.07 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.03 0.01 0.02
34 Uttarakhand 1.01 0.74 0.99 0.84 0.15 0.15 0.10 0.37 0.20 0.18 0.05 0.04 0.06 0.02 0.05 0.20 0.16 0.11 0.07 0.04
35 Uttar Pradesh 40.00 33.36 41.40 33.95 7.45 14.00 13.52 15.69 10.86 4.82 1.50 1.19 1.95 1.12 0.84 7.50 7.02 9.89 5.88 4.01
36 West Bengal 8.20 5.85 8.83 5.73 3.10 1.99 1.52 2.61 1.60 0.99 2.20 1.67 1.77 1.04 0.72 7.00 5.65 9.02 5.15 3.87
ALL INDIA 196.06 161.50 198.95 161.55 37.43 53.43 48.37 65.90 45.37 20.51 15.69 12.00 16.03 8.43 7.60 82.38 67.53 94.91 54.23 40.73Annexure-B
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No 1261 for answering on 06.02.2026
Cumulative Statement of Enforcement Activities
Action taken by the State Governments to check black marketing, hoarding, quality check, diversion etc during the period from 01.04.2025
to 30.01.2026
Black Marketing Sub Standard Quality
Show cause notice No. of licenses FIR Show cause notice No. of licenses FIR
States issued cancelled/suspended registered issued cancelled/suspended registered
Andhra Pradesh 80 10 9 346 0 0
Arunachal Pradesh 0 0 0 0 0 0
Assam 12 6 1 46 1 0
Bihar 1241 782 116 5 0 0
Chhattisgarh 295 13 4 145 5 0
Dadar & Nagar 0 0 0 0 0 0
Delhi 0 0 1 3 0 0
Goa 544 180 6 32 1 0
Gujarat 46 3 1 117 2 0
Haryana 65 15 10 51 12 6
Himachal Pradesh 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jammu & Kashmir 143 44 2 66 2 0
Jharkhand 57 20 11 2 0 0
Karnataka 368 25 1 244 14 2
Kerala 0 0 0 50 0 0
Madhya Pradesh 0 0 91 739 44 4
Maharashtra 16 0 16 1567 1354 44
Manipur 0 0 0 0 0 0
Meghalaya 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mizoram 1 0 0 0 0 0
Nagaland 14 0 14 101 0 0
Odisha 4 3 2 55 1 1
Puducherry 0 0 0 0 0 0
Punjab 37 1 1 293 92 3
Rajasthan 652 118 47 506 1 2
Tamilnadu 14 0 4 33 25 0
Telangana 5 9 3 128 0 0
Tripura 0 0 0 0 0 0
Uttar Pradesh 2341 2901 179 164 151 20
Uttarakhand 0 0 0 0 0 0
West Bengal 0 0 0 286 0 0
Total 5935 4130 519 4979 1705 82