News Capsule: Government Sells Record 56 Lakh Tonnes of Rice in Bulk
13-Oct-2025 10:35 AM
News Capsule: Government Sells Record 56 Lakh Tonnes of Rice in Bulk
★ India’s central rice stocks continue to rise and currently stand at over 470 lakh tonnes, approximately 3.5 times the buffer stock of 102.5 lakh tonnes for October.
★ In FY 2025-26, open market rice sales reached 56 lakh tonnes, higher than 46.3 lakh tonnes in FY25. During the same period, FCI supplied 24.6 lakh tonnes of rice for ethanol production, 20.6 lakh tonnes under state welfare schemes, 10.3 lakh tonnes through e-auctions, and 0.6 lakh tonnes under the Bharat Rice scheme.
★ The government plans to offload an additional 60–70 lakh tonnes of rice from FCI’s surplus stocks to bulk buyers in the current fiscal.
★ About 100 lakh tonnes of rice are yet to be received from millers in the central pool.
★ For the 2025-26 Kharif season (October–September), the government has set a rice procurement target of 463.5 lakh tonnes, while 34.1 lakh tonnes of paddy have been procured so far, significantly higher than 9.1 lakh tonnes purchased during the same period last year.
★ The government has fixed reserve prices for rice until October 31, 2025: 2250 INR/quintal for ethanol and state distribution, 2400 INR/quintal for Bharat Rice, and 2800 INR/quintal for e-auction/bulk purchases.