look news india
Just before the upcoming festive season, the kitchen budget seems to be hit once again by inflation. The prices of onion, considered an essential part of the Indian thali, are ready to bring tears to the eyes of common consumers. In order to provide relief to the consumers, the Central Government has released consumer goods from its buffer stock through National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) and NAFED. ₹35 per kilogram Started sale of onion at concessional rate of Rs. But the ground reality is that despite government intervention and subsidies, onion prices are continuously increasing in major metros and retail markets of the country. While prices have been recorded at ₹53 to ₹60 per kg, good quality onions are being sold at ₹60 to ₹70 per kg in local mandis and grocery stores, according to official data from the Consumer Affairs Ministry.
According to the latest data from the Union Consumer Affairs Ministry and local market reports, the onion price situation in major metro cities of the country is as follows:
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National Capital Delhi: According to government data, the average retail price in Delhi has been recorded at ₹ 53 per kg, but in colonies and retail markets it has reached ₹ 60 to ₹ 70 per kg.
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Mumbai: The official retail price of onion in the financial capital has been recorded at ₹58 per kg, while the premium quality has crossed ₹65 per kg.
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Kolkata and Chennai: The official prices of onion are the highest in these two metropolitan cities of Eastern and Southern India i.e. ₹60 per kg But remain. It is being sold at ₹65 to ₹75 per kg in the local markets.
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All India Average: The average retail price of onion across the country has reached around ₹ 54.2 per kg, while in some sensitive parts of the country the maximum price has been recorded up to ₹ 100 per kg.
To control the prices, the Central Government has approved for the year 2026 approx. Buffer stock of 1.21 lakh tonnes of onion Have prepared. To rapidly transport onions from major producing states like Nashik (Maharashtra) and Madhya Pradesh to the consumption centres, special goods trains of Railways i.e. ‘Kanda Express’ And trucks are being used. Despite this, the following are the main reasons behind the lack of relief in retail prices:
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Limited Government Outlets: Mobile vans and stores of NCCF, NAFED and Kendriya Bhandar are mainly limited to selected areas. The country’s vast population and millions of retail buyers in the colonies are still dependent on private vegetable markets and local street vendors, where subsidized onions are not available.
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Effect of supply and lean period: The period of September and October is considered as ‘lean season’ in terms of onion supply. During this period, the old stock of Rabi crop starts decreasing in the mandis, while there are still a few weeks left for the new arrival of Kharif crop.
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Weather patterns and hindrances in logistics: Heavy rains and cyclonic pressure during the last phase of monsoon have led to delays in road transport from Maharashtra and southern states, leading to shortage of urgent supplies in local mandis.
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Profiteering and hoarding of middlemen: There is a huge price gap between the wholesale price received from farmers in producer markets and the retail price paid by consumers in cities. Traders and commission agents are creating artificial shortage by holding back old stock in the hope of increase in demand during festivals.
Experts in agriculture and consumer affairs believe that demand is likely to increase further during the festive season (Dussehra and Diwali). However, the government has decided to increase the supply of subsidized onions to more than 50 cities and send more consignments through rail routes from the buffer stock, if needed.
Experts say that until the arrival of new onions of Kharif season starts completely in the mandis, retail prices may remain under pressure. If the government does not strictly monitor hoarding at the local level and increase the number of vans manifold, onion prices may further strain the budget of middle class families in the coming days.