Govt tightens wheat stock limit till March

The government has tightened stock limit on wheat and plans to extend the time period for stock limits on tur and urad till March 2024 in a bid to arrest rising prices of cereals and pulses by discouraging hoarding and speculations.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution on Friday halved wheat stock limits for traders, wholesalers, and retailers - to 1,000 tonnes from 2,000 tonnes for traders and wholesalers, five tonnes (from 10 tonnes) for retailers, and five tonnes (10 tonnes) for each outlet and 1,000 tonnes (2,000 tonnes) at all depots of each big chain retailer.

The new limits are applicable till March 31, 2024.


Processors can hold 70% of monthly installed capacity multiplied by the remaining months of 2023-24, the ministry said in a statement. The move comes at a time when food inflation stays high. Cereals inflation, for example, stood at 10.65% in October, continuing to be in double digits for the second month in a row.