Centre orders rice stock disclosure and doubles open-market rice sale target to 50 lakh tonnes

The Centre has ordered traders, wholesalers, retailers and millers across the country to declare their rice and paddy stocks every Friday, and has doubled the amount of rice it will sell in the open market this year.

The Food Ministry says the government is closely monitoring grain prices, especially rice, and acting to keep supplies adequate, prices stable and hoarding in check.

Stock disclosure

An order dated 6 November 2026 requires all traders, wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers and processors or millers in every State and Union Territory to declare stocks in six categories: Basmati, non-Basmati premium, non-Basmati, parboiled, broken rice, and paddy. They must file on the Food Stock Portal each Friday. Entities that are unregistered or exceed prescribed limits face action under Sections 6 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

Stock limits in the south

By a communication of the same date, the Centre agreed that Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana may impose stock limits on paddy and rice through control orders, wherever they consider it necessary. The limits remain in force until 31 January 2027.

More rice on sale

The government is allocating extra Bharat Rice to NAFED, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar and has told them to widen sales, particularly in the southern States.

Under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic), the 2026-27 target for rice sold through e-auction has been raised from 25 LMT to 50 LMT (lakh metric tonnes). By 31 October 2026, 25 LMT had already been sold to private parties, against 11 LMT in the same period of the previous financial year.

The ministry expects the steps to add to market supplies and moderate retail prices.

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Source: official release by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (06 NOV 2026 4:41PM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: Government doubles OMSS (D) rice sale target from 25 LMT to 50 LMT for 2026-27; 25 LMT already sold through e-auctions up to 31 October 2026.