Politics · India Bureau
Government launches subsidised onion sales in Delhi as prices surge
The Centre will begin selling onions at ₹35 per kilogramme in Delhi from Thursday, undercutting market rates that have climbed to ₹55-60 per kg across major Indian cities. The intervention aims to ease retail price pressures while tapping into buffer stocks maintained for market stabilisation.
LSN India ·
Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi will inaugurate the subsidised retail scheme on Thursday, according to a senior official in the consumer affairs ministry. The government will deploy onions from a buffer stock of 1.21 lakh tonnes held across producing states, with three agencies—Nafed, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar—managing distribution channels.
The National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF), which maintains a buffer stock of 62,000 tonnes, is transporting 400 tonnes from Nashik in Maharashtra via the "Kanda Express" dedicated freight service. The consignment is expected to arrive in Delhi on Thursday, enabling same-day sales launches.
The subsidised pricing represents a significant discount to prevailing retail rates, where onion prices have surged across multiple metropolitan centres. Officials said the intervention will initially be restricted to Delhi, with expansion to the National Capital Region expected by the weekend as additional supplies reach distribution points.
The government's buffer stocking mechanism has enabled rapid market intervention without disrupting supply chains. The multi-agency approach through Nafed, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar ensures broad retail coverage and accessibility across Delhi's consumer base during the period of elevated commodity prices.