The government announced on Thursday its commitment to implementing appropriate policy measures to stabilize wheat prices for consumers. This decision followed a meeting of the committee of ministers, chaired by Home Affairs and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, during which officials were instructed to closely monitor wheat prices.
According to official data, the prices of wheat and wheat flour have increased by up to Rs 2 per kilogram compared to a year ago. As of June 20, the average retail price of wheat was Rs 30.99 per kilogram, up from Rs 28.95 a year earlier, while the price of wheat flour rose to Rs 36.13 per kilogram from Rs 34.29 last year.
The committee thoroughly discussed the current status of wheat stocks and prices. The Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry issued a statement emphasizing the need for vigilant monitoring and policy interventions to ensure price stability for consumers.
“The Union Minister directed that a close watch may be kept on the prices of wheat and suitable policy interventions be undertaken to ensure price stability for the consumers of the country,” the ministry’s statement read.
The government assured the public that it has procured slightly more wheat for the central pool than in the previous year.
“After meeting the requirement for PDS and other welfare schemes, which is approximately 18.4 million tonnes, sufficient stock of wheat is available to undertake market interventions, as and when required,” the ministry added.
As of June 18, the government had procured 26.6 million tonnes of wheat for the central pool in the 2024-25 rabi marketing year, which began on April 1. This is marginally higher than the 26.2 million tonnes procured in the previous year.
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