India launches subsidized onion sales in Delhi to curb rising prices

The Indian government has launched a retail sale of onions at a subsidized rate of ₹35 per kg in Delhi and the NCR region to combat rising market prices. This intervention follows a surge in retail onion prices in the capital, which reached approximately ₹62 per kg, an 88% increase compared to the previous year.

To facilitate this, the government deployed the ‘Kanda Express’, a dedicated freight rake that transported over 450 tonnes of onions from Nashik, Maharashtra, to Delhi. The distribution is being managed through agencies including NCCF, NAFED, and Kendriya Bhandar, utilizing both fixed retail outlets and mobile vans. Some supplies are also being routed to nearby cities such as Chandigarh, Ludhiana, and Jammu.

Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare stated that there is no shortage of onion production or availability in the country, attributing the price spikes to hoarding, black marketing, and profiteering. The government maintains a buffer stock of approximately 1.21 lakh tonnes under the Price Stabilisation Fund to manage such seasonal pressures.