Central Pool Holds Over 47 Million Tonnes of Rice Stock
14-Oct-2025 12:33 PM
New Delhi. Despite significant withdrawals from various schemes, programs, and initiatives, the stock of rice in the Central Pool has risen to over 47 million tonnes, including the amount of paddy that will be milled to produce rice. This stock significantly exceeds the buffer amount.
Meanwhile, government procurement of Kharif paddy has begun, which will gradually increase the rice stock in the coming months.
Although the government is successfully withdrawing record quantities of rice from its stock under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS), the Liberal Allocation Scheme for States as per their needs, the Scheme for Sale at Concessional Prices to Ethanol Manufacturers, and the Bharat Rice Scheme, a large stock of rice remains available in the Central Pool.
According to data available, rice sales under the OMSS during the financial year 2025-26 reached a record level of 5.6 million tonnes, significantly higher than the 4.63 million tonnes sold in 2024-25.
According to official sources, Food Corporation of India (FCI) may be able to clear up to 60-70 lakh tonnes of rice from its stock through the open market sale scheme during the entire period of the current financial year (2025-26).
At present, there is a stock of more than 470 lakh tonnes of rice in the central pool, which is three and a half (3.5) times more than the minimum required buffer quantity of 102.50 lakh tonnes fixed for October 1.
According to official sources, this also includes the stock of 100 lakh tonnes of rice to be received from the millers. Rice millers have an equivalent stock of paddy.
In the current financial year, from April 1 to October 8, 2025, Food Corporation of India supplied 24.60 lakh tonnes of rice to ethanol manufacturers in the country, 20.60 lakh tonnes for provincial level social welfare programmes, 10.30 lakh tonnes through e-auction in OMSS and 60 thousand tonnes for Bharat Brand Scheme.
A total of 46.30 lakh tonnes of rice was allocated for all these programmes in the same period of 2024-25. Earlier, its quantity was 1540 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 and 17.80 lakh tonnes in 2022-23. Food subsidy is likely to increase.