COMMODITY
Centre starts onion retail sale at Rs 35 per kg in national capital to control rates
Aug-28-2026

In order to provide relief to common people and control rates, the Centre has started retail sale of onion at Rs 35 per kg in the national capital, a 44 per cent discount from the current market price. The Centre is selling onion from its buffer stock. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said the prices have risen because of black marketing, hoarding and profiteering. She asserted that the country has adequate supply of onions to meet demand during the festive season. Khare said the government is not considering putting a ban on onion exports, as there is no problem of supply.

During April-June 2026, onion exports stood at around 3.82 lakh tonnes. She flagged off many small trucks carrying onions, marking the start of retail sale of the buffer onion stock at Rs 35 per kg. In Delhi, the price of onion on August 27, 2026, is Rs 62 per kg. The retail sale will be carried out through three agencies - Nafed, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar. Mother Dairy will also sell through its Safal stores.

To move supplies quickly, the government is transporting bulk onion consignments to the capital via dedicated railway rakes christened “Kanda Express”. The first such rake, carrying 800 tonne of onions, has already left Nashik. Meanwhile, the onion production is estimated at 307.37 lakh tonnes in 2025-26 against 307.67 lakh tonnes in the preceding year. About 1.21 lakh tonnes of onions have been procured by the government for the buffer stock. The Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) has been engaged for the first time as the storage agency for the onion buffer during 2026-27.

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