Politics · India Bureau
India offloads 4,000 tonnes of buffer onions to stabilise prices
The government has moved to cool onion prices by releasing substantial quantities from its buffer stock across major cities. The subsidised sales at ₹35 per kilogramme have been extended to 17 cities as part of efforts to ease consumer prices.
LSN India ·
India's government has accelerated the sale of onions from its strategic buffer reserves, offloading 4,000 tonnes within a ten-day period to address rising retail prices across the country. The Centre has extended subsidised onion sales to 17 cities, offering the commodity at ₹35 per kilogramme—a significant discount aimed at providing relief to consumers facing inflationary pressures.
Buffer stock releases have become a key policy tool for managing onion prices, which remain volatile due to seasonal supply fluctuations and weather-dependent harvests. By distributing these reserves across multiple urban centres, the government seeks to ensure wider accessibility and create downward pressure on retail markets.
The initiative reflects growing concerns over food inflation, with onions being a dietary staple consumed across Indian households. Officials have indicated that the intervention will continue as part of broader price stabilisation efforts, though the duration and scale of further releases remain dependent on market conditions and buffer stock availability.
Onion prices have historically posed challenges for policymakers due to their sensitivity to monsoon patterns and storage constraints. The current intervention underscores the government's commitment to deploying administrative measures alongside supply-side solutions to contain food-price volatility.