Parliament Question: Prices of Essential Commodities

Government of India Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2821 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2026 PRICES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES

2821. 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 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 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) : Government monitors the daily prices of 41 food commodities submitted by the 579 price monitoring centres across the country. In the wake of West Asia conflict, government has constituted seven empowered groups to monitor and assess the impact of the West Asia situation and take necessary remedial measures. Empowered Group on Prices and Supply of Essential Commodities comprising Department of Consumer Affairs, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying is one of the seven Groups. The Group monitors the availability and prices of essential commodities and deliberates the remedial measures to be taken by the Ministry/ Department concerned in

order to address the issues.

As per daily price trends, the prices of essential food commodities like cereals and pulses are stable despite the recent West Asia conflict and disruptions in global supply chains on the back of record foodgrains production of 3,765.63 lakh tonnes in 2025-26 and ample stock available with the government. Among major vegetables, prices of potato are remarkably stable while prices of tomato and onion exhibited slight seasonal variations while remaining largely range bound. In respect of edible oils, India’s dependence on imports makes domestic prices sensitive to global market trends.(d) & (e) : 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.

Pulses from the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) buffer are released in a regulated manner to augment the availability and cool down the market prices. Market interventions through buffer stock also help in nudging the market players lower their prices. Buffer stock of pulses also acts as deterrent against speculative hoarding and manipulation by market players. During 2025-26, a total of 4.04 lakh tonnes of pulses were released from the PSF buffer through open market sale. In addition, pulses were also supplied to States/UTs for their welfare schemes on continuous basis, as per demand and availability. In case of onion, a total of 2.87 lakh tonnes of Rabi-2025 harvest were procured during 2025-26. The buffer stock of onion plays critical role in controlling the seasonal fluctuation in prices during the period between Rabi and Kharif onion harvests when prices tend to rise due to the depletion in stored Rabi onions. Onions from the government buffer are released during this lean season in regulated and targeted manner through retail and bulk sales to augment the market availability and stabilise the prices.

To protect the consumer from inflation arising from the geopolitical conflicts affecting energy prices, Department of Consumer Affairs has set up Control Room to monitor prices and enforcement of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the Prevention of Black marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980. Meetings were held with the Food & Civil Supplies Departments and State Police authorities of the States and UTs to sensitise them on price stability and enforcement of the Essential Commodities Act. The National Consumer Helpline has been strengthened for an intensive monitoring of LPG-related grievances. As of date, prices of agri-food commodities, especially, foodgrains have been largely stable and there are no spikes in consumer grievances relating to LPG.

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