The Union Food Ministry has further revised the wheat stock limits for traders, stockists, and processors. Explaining its decision to revise the wheat stock limit which is second time in three months centre said that the measure is to manage the “overall food security and to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation.” However, union ministry assured that there is ample availability of wheat in the country and in 2024-25, the wheat production was 1175.07 lakh metric tonne (LMT).
The decision was taken by the union ministry to curb hoarding and unscrupulous speculation during the upcoming festive season. The stock limit has been imposed on wheat for traders, retailers, large chain retailers, and processors across all states and union territories. In its latest revision, the central government has reduced the stock limit for traders and wholesalers from 3,000 metric tonnes (MT) to 2,000 MT. For retailers and large chain retailers, the limit has been reduced from 10 MT to 8 MT. The Government said as part of “continuous efforts to moderate prices of wheat before the upcoming festive season”, the wheat stock limit is revised until March 31, 2026. For trader/ wholesaler, the limit has been reduced to 2,000 metric tonnes (MT) from the existing limit of 3,000 MT. For retailers, 8 MT is the new limit. Earlier, it was 10 MT. For big-chain retailers too, 8 MT for each retail outlet subject to maximum quantity of (8 multiplied by total no. of outlets) MT is the new limit. “This will be the maximum stock that can be held at all their retail outlets and depots put together,” the Government said.
To get an updated information on the stocks of wheat, the centre has further asked all wheat stocking entities to declare or update the stock position on every Friday on the wheat stock portal. “Any entity which is found to have not registered on the portal or violates the stock limits will be subject to suitable punitive action under Section 6 & 7 of Essential Commodities Act,1955,” warned the government. In case the stocks held by above entities are higher than the above prescribed limit, they shall have to bring the same to the prescribed stock limits within 15 days of issue of the notification,” said the Food Ministry.