Centre hikes reserve prices for open-market sale of wheat by 10.86% and rice 3%
As per an order issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on July 10, a reserve price of Rs 2,550 per quintal has been fixed for the sale of wheat of all crop years including rabi marketing season 2025-26 to private parties through e-auction; for sale to central cooperative organisations like NAFED/NCCF/ Kendriya Bhandar for sale under the Bharat brand through own stores/mobile vans, or e-commerce/big chain retailers; and for sale to community kitchens.
The prices will be valid up to June 30, 2026, the ministry said in the order. 'Transportation cost, as applicable, will be added to the reserve price,' it said.
The wheat reserve price fixed for the financial year 2025-26 is 10.86 per cent higher compared to Rs 2,300 per quintal in the last fiscal year (2024-25).
While the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) has fixed the reserve price of wheat, it has not announced the quantity to be sold through the open-market sale scheme. The quantity to be sold will be decided by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
'The quantum of stocks to be offloaded & timing, considering stocks holding at the relevant point of time may be decided by FCI in consultation with DFPD after keeping the stocks for PDS requirement, buffer norms and additional quantity of 20 LMT that can be used in case of any exigency,' said the order.
The existing reserve prices of rice will continue till October 31, 2025, and the 3 per cent hike in prices will come into effect from November 1 onwards.
From November 1, the reserve price of rice with 25% broken grains to private parties and cooperatives/cooperative federations through e-auctions will be increased to Rs 2,890 per quintal from Rs 2,800 per quintal.
The reserve price of rice for sale to state governments and their corporations, and to ethanol distilleries for the production of ethanol, will increase to Rs 2,320 per quintal from Rs 2,250 per quintal.
The reserve price for the open-market sale of custom-milled rice (CMR) with 10 per cent broken grains—under the rice milling transformation scheme—to private parties through e-auctions has been hiked to Rs 3,090 per quintal from Rs 3,000 per quintal.
'3% increase in Reserve Price in accordance with increase in MSP of paddy,' said the order.
According to the order, support from the price stabilisation fund amounting to Rs 200/quintal for the sale of rice to central cooperative organisations for sale under the Bharat brand rice will be discontinued with effect from July 1, 2025.
The quantity of rice to be sold under the OMSS-D has also not been announced. 'Quantum of stocks to be offloaded, and timing, considering stocks holding at the relevant point of time may be decided by FCI in consultation with DFPD after keeping the stocks for PDS requirement, buffer norms and additional quantity of 30 LMT that can be used in case of any exigency,' said the order.
The ministry has also fixed reserve prices of coarse grains—for sale of bajra to private parties through e-auctions at Rs 2,775 per quintal, ragi at Rs 4,886 per quintal, jowar at Rs 3,749 per quintal, and maize at Rs 2,400 per quintal.
Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Domestic buyers power real estate boom in Kochi
Kochi: The city's real estate sector is undergoing a significant shift, with a growing number of domestic buyers opting for premium and mid-segment flats for residential purposes. Earlier, the market was largely NRI-driven, with apartments often purchased as investments and left vacant or rented. Now, builders report a growing trend of more local buyers—especially from Ernakulam and nearby districts—moving permanently to the city for work or business. According to RERA-registered builders, the buyer ratio has shifted from 30:70 (local:NRI) to 60:40 in favour of domestic buyers. "Earlier, 80% of our buyers were NRIs. Now it's below 40%, with 60% being locals planning to settle in Kochi," said Ravi Jacob, Chairman of Trine Holdings. Real estate developers attribute this to a shift in residential culture. "Most flat buyers today are end-users, with very few purchasing them an investment option. In nearly all our projects, the occupancy rate has reached 90%, which reflects this trend," said V Sunilkumar, MD of Asset Homes. Even domestic buyers are increasingly choosing premium projects—especially 3 BHK units priced over Rs 1 crore—equipped with high-end amenities. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Many finance these purchases by selling off ancestral or rural properties, leveraging improved purchasing power and capital gains benefits. "Young couples are increasingly prioritizing access to premium facilities, with easy access to quality educational institutions and advanced healthcare available in urban areas," said former K-RERA member M P Mathews. He added that the state's policy of encouraging private universities and colleges is also a contributing factor, leading to land acquisitions in rural areas, with former landowners reinvesting in urban housing, reinforcing the trend of end-use purchases. The boom in commercial activity and job creation in tier-2 cities like Kochi is another key driver. Recognizing these shifts, builders are focusing on mid-segment 2 and 3 BHK flats, strategically located near Metro stations, schools, hospitals, and arterial roads. "Metros like Bengaluru are becoming saturated, prompting business and IT sectors to shift to cities like Kochi boosting its economic profile and enhancing the purchasing power of local buyers," said Edward George, president of CREDAI's Cochin chapter.
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Coconut prices soar in AP as demand-supply gap widens
Visakhapatnam: Humid weather conditions, coupled with a gap between demand and supply, have led to a surge in the price of tender coconuts in parts of Andhra Pradesh, particularly in the north coastal region (NCAP). Residents are now paying around Rs 50– Rs 60 per tender coconut due to high demand. Tender coconuts for Vizag city are primarily sourced from the Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts, along with parts of Kakinada and East Godavari. More than 1.5 lakh coconut farmers, labourers, and traders depend on coconut farming in the Uddanam region of Srikakulam district. This region supplies tender coconuts to various parts of NCAP, as well as to Odisha and West Bengal. However, diseases have been affecting the yield in recent seasons. "Due to erratic rainfall and high humidity, the demand for tender coconuts has increased in recent weeks. But we're not receiving enough supply from either wholesale dealers or farmers," said K. Naidu, a trader near Siripuram in Vizag city. "On average, my stall needs at least 400 tender coconuts a day. But for the past few weeks, I've only been able to source 200 to 250 a day, as wholesale dealers are struggling with limited supply," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Urban Ascent by Emaar 4 BHK Apartments Starting at ₹ 5.25 Cr* on Dwarka E-Way , Near Gurugram Emaar India Get Quote Undo The price in the wholesale market now ranges from Rs 40 per piece. Higher-quality coconuts are commanding even more. "With limited supply and high demand, we are selling one-liter tender coconut water for Rs 150. Residents are feeling the pinch," said K. Laxmi, another trader. Farmers reported that the yield has decreased by 30–40% in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka due to persistent pest attacks over the past few years. Prices of not just tender coconuts, but also regular coconuts and coconut oil, have surged by 100% to 200% over the last year, they added. Officials say coconut availability is slowly returning to normal and expect coconut oil prices to stabilize within the next three months. "Usually, the price of tender coconuts peaks in summer. But even in July, the best coconuts are selling for Rs 60 apiece due to supply shortages," said G. Prabhakar, a resident of Vizag city. "I need to drink coconut water for medical reasons, but it's becoming too expensive these days. "
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Work set to begin on 1.7-km underground leg of Yellow Line
1 2 Kolkata: The second phase of the underground Yellow Line beyond the airport to Birati is set to begin with the engineering firm—which built the underground packages for the East-West Metro—securing a Rs 1,330-crore contract. ITD Cementation's job includes construction of twin tunnels, each 1.7 km long, the underground Birati station and subways for Birati and Michael Nagar stations on this stretch of the 11.2-km Noapara-Barasat Metro corridor. The Yellow Line's first phase— the 7-km section from Noapara to Jai Hind (airport) stations—is complete and ready for safety inspections by the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS), which grants the approval for revenue operations. For the second phase, ITD Cementation recently emerged as the lowest bidder for the civil construction contract. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Metro Railway had floated the tender for in Aug 2024, with a timeframe of 910 days or around two-and-a-half years. The bid was invited weeks after the Airports Authority of India (AAI) allowed the use of 18-m-tall cranes for the work on the airport-New Barrackpore stretch. AAI also granted Metro Railway the much-awaited NOC to start work between the airport and Michael Nagar. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Being on the flight path of planes near the northern end of the main runway, the corridor has been riddled with several obstacles. . "The contractor (ITD Cementation) will be responsible for the construction of 3.5-km Metro tunnels (1.7 km each), the underground Birati station and subway work for Birati and Michael Nagar stations," a Metro official said. The tunnel next to the airport's wall will be built, using the RCC box pushing method (without the deployment of tunnel boring machines), as specified by the AAI, while the Birati station will be constructed using the cut-and-cover method. The cut-and-cover method is a shallow, tunnelling technique, in which a trench is excavated, the tunnel structure is built, and the trench is then covered and restored to the original surface. The method is used when the tunnel's depth is relatively shallow and the surface disruption is acceptable. "The contractor will also be responsible for the architectural finishing, firefighting, water supply, sanitary installation, power supply system and aluminium third rail among other facilities," a Metro official said. "We hope the rest of the Yellow Line issues will be resolved and funds will flow accordingly."
