Price Monitoring Division

A. Price Monitoring Division (PMD)
Price Monitoring Division (PMD) in the Department of Consumer Affairs is responsible for monitoring prices of selected essential commodities. The activities of the division include monitoring of the retail and wholesale prices, and spot and future prices of selected essential commodities on a daily basis. Prices are reported daily on the website. Also, there is limited circulation of hard copies of the price reports to disseminate information on price situation to the policy makers on a daily basis. Price Monitoring Division analyses the price situation and gives advance feedback for taking preventive measures to help policy interventions at appropriate time to prevent undesired shortfall in the availability of essential commodities. In the event of shortage of any specific essential commodity and to keep price of the item under control, Price Monitoring Division also implements commodity-specific market intervention schemes to give relief to the consumers.

A. Price Monitoring Division (PMD)

Price Monitoring Division (PMD) in the Department of Consumer Affairs is responsible for monitoring prices of selected essential commodities. The activities of the division include monitoring of the retail and wholesale prices, and spot and future prices of selected essential commodities on a daily basis. Prices are reported daily on the website. Also, there is limited circulation of hard copies of the price reports to disseminate information on price situation to the policy makers on a daily basis. Price Monitoring Division analyses the price situation and gives advance feedback for taking preventive measures to help policy interventions at appropriate time to prevent undesired shortfall in the availability of essential commodities. In the event of shortage of any specific essential commodity and to keep price of the item under control, Price Monitoring Division also implements commodity-specific market intervention schemes to give relief to the consumers.

B. Price Monitoring
Initially, PMD was tasked for monitoring prices of 14 essential commodities across 18 centres in the country. Over years, the scope of PMD has expanded and as of today the number of commodities monitored is 38 and the number of reporting centres is 555. Of the 38 commodities, 16 commodities have been included w.e.f. 01/08/2024. Price is monitored for thirty eight essential commodities (Rice, Wheat, Atta, Bajra, Jowar, Ragi, Maida, Suji, Gram Dal, Tur (Arhar) Dal, Urad Dal , Moong Dal, Masur Dal, Besan, Groundnut Oil, Mustard Oil, Vanaspati Oil, Sunflower Oil, Soya Oil, Palm Oil, Desi Ghee, Butter, Sugar, Gur, Tea, Salt, Milk, Egg, Potato, Onion, Tomato, Brinjal, Black Pepper, Coriander, Cumin Seed, Red Chilli, Turmeric and Banana) based on data collected from (555) market centres spread across the country representing North, West, East, South and North-eastern regions of the country. The Quality and variety of the item for which prices are reported may vary from centre to centre but remains the same for a given centre. Generally, prices are reported for the Fair Average Quality of the item for a given centre. Every centre has a standard quality and variety of item for which prices are reported by them. Data feeding network and data base of prices (daily price data) are maintained by the NIC cell of the Department of Consumer Affairs under the supervision of Price Monitoring Division

B. Price Monitoring

Initially, PMD was tasked for monitoring prices of 14 essential commodities across 18 centres in the country. Over years, the scope of PMD has expanded and as of today the number of commodities monitored is 38 and the number of reporting centres is 555. Of the 38 commodities, 16 commodities have been included w.e.f. 01/08/2024. Price is monitored for thirty eight essential commodities (Rice, Wheat, Atta, Bajra, Jowar, Ragi, Maida, Suji, Gram Dal, Tur (Arhar) Dal, Urad Dal , Moong Dal, Masur Dal, Besan, Groundnut Oil, Mustard Oil, Vanaspati Oil, Sunflower Oil, Soya Oil, Palm Oil, Desi Ghee, Butter, Sugar, Gur, Tea, Salt, Milk, Egg, Potato, Onion, Tomato, Brinjal, Black Pepper, Coriander, Cumin Seed, Red Chilli, Turmeric and Banana) based on data collected from (555) market centres spread across the country representing North, West, East, South and North-eastern regions of the country. The Quality and variety of the item for which prices are reported may vary from centre to centre but remains the same for a given centre. Generally, prices are reported for the Fair Average Quality of the item for a given centre. Every centre has a standard quality and variety of item for which prices are reported by them. Data feeding network and data base of prices (daily price data) are maintained by the NIC cell of the Department of Consumer Affairs under the supervision of Price Monitoring Division

C. Sources of Price Data
Retail and wholesale prices of 38 commodities from (555) centers are received daily from the State Civil Supplies Departments of the respective State Governments through Mobile App developed by the Department. To improve the quality of price data, the department launched a Mobile App on 01.01.2021 - the PMS App - for the reporting of daily prices by the price reporting centres. A drop-down menu in which the variety relevant for that state,e.g.- moong whole or dhuli moong, urad whole or split urad enables consistency in reporting. The Mobile App ensures that reporting is from the actual market location, as data are geo-tagged thereby displaying the location from where price data are reported. This geo-tagged, time-stamped data rules out the possibility of reporting of static information. The Mobile App also has an in-built feature to calculate and report the average price. This takes care of the chances of human error in calculation. To cross-check the accuracy of prices reported by price reporting centres from the States/UTs, the services of FCI and NAFED have been utilised since February 2021. 162 divisional offices of FCI and 17 field offices of NAFED send daily reports on retail prices of 11 food commodities – rice, wheat, onion, potato, tomato, gram, tur, urad, moong, masoor and sugar. These price reporting centres report prices entirely through the Mobile App. Retail prices reported by the States/UTs are thus compared with the prices reported by the reporting centres of FCI and NAFED on a daily basis. This further validates the price data received from the States/UTs.

C. Sources of Price Data

Retail and wholesale prices of 38 commodities from (555) centers are received daily from the State Civil Supplies Departments of the respective State Governments through Mobile App developed by the Department. To improve the quality of price data, the department launched a Mobile App on 01.01.2021 - the PMS App - for the reporting of daily prices by the price reporting centres. A drop-down menu in which the variety relevant for that state,e.g.- moong whole or dhuli moong, urad whole or split urad enables consistency in reporting. The Mobile App ensures that reporting is from the actual market location, as data are geo-tagged thereby displaying the location from where price data are reported. This geo-tagged, time-stamped data rules out the possibility of reporting of static information. The Mobile App also has an in-built feature to calculate and report the average price. This takes care of the chances of human error in calculation.

To cross-check the accuracy of prices reported by price reporting centres from the States/UTs, the services of FCI and NAFED have been utilised since February 2021. 162 divisional offices of FCI and 17 field offices of NAFED send daily reports on retail prices of 11 food commodities – rice, wheat, onion, potato, tomato, gram, tur, urad, moong, masoor and sugar. These price reporting centres report prices entirely through the Mobile App. Retail prices reported by the States/UTs are thus compared with the prices reported by the reporting centres of FCI and NAFED on a daily basis. This further validates the price data received from the States/UTs.

D. Production and Dissemination of Price Reports
Daily Price Report consists of the following: - Daily retail and wholesale prices of the selected 38 (essential commodities for last five days, on one week before, one month back and one year back and; retail and wholesale prices in four metros, viz., Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Ranchi for the day, one month back and one year back. - Daily Retail and wholesale prices of the commodities from centers. - Variation in retail and wholesale prices of select commodities from centers over a fortnight.

D. Production and Dissemination of Price Reports

Daily Price Report consists of the following:

- Daily retail and wholesale prices of the selected 38 (essential commodities for last five days, on one week before, one month back and one year back and; retail and wholesale prices in four metros, viz., Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Ranchi for the day, one month back and one year back.

- Daily Retail and wholesale prices of the commodities from centers.

- Variation in retail and wholesale prices of select commodities from centers over a fortnight.

E. Monitoring of other relevant and probable determinants of Prices
Price Monitoring Division also monitors other variables at the national and global level that are likely to impact prices. National level variables that are monitored include (Wholesale Price Index, Consumer Price Index, Prices of major vegetables in India, Minimum Support Price, Spot and Future Prices of food and non-food items in India, Production of major crops), Crop area under various crops, Stocks of essential commodities , Government Procurement of Essential Commodities, International and domestic prices of pulses as obtained from NAFED, and Global level variables that are monitored include: (International Food Price Index, Consumer Price indices of different countries, Data on trade and commodity prices ) and (World Agricultural Supply-Demand estimates). Institutionalised weekly interaction with market intelligence: The Department established weekly interaction with market intelligence wherein Department of Agriculture and India Meteorological Department are also participating and share their inputs on production, area, yield, weather phenomena affecting prices of essential commodities.

E. Monitoring of other relevant and probable determinants of Prices

Price Monitoring Division also monitors other variables at the national and global level that are likely to impact prices. National level variables that are monitored include (Wholesale Price Index, Consumer Price Index, Prices of major vegetables in India, Minimum Support Price, Spot and Future Prices of food and non-food items in India, Production of major crops), Crop area under various crops, Stocks of essential commodities , Government Procurement of Essential Commodities, International and domestic prices of pulses as obtained from NAFED, and Global level variables that are monitored include: (International Food Price Index, Consumer Price indices of different countries, Data on trade and commodity prices ) and (World Agricultural Supply-Demand estimates).

Institutionalised weekly interaction with market intelligence: The Department established weekly interaction with market intelligence wherein Department of Agriculture and India Meteorological Department are also participating and share their inputs on production, area, yield, weather phenomena affecting prices of essential commodities.

F. Price Analysis and Policy Intervention
The prevailing price situation as well as factors which impact on prices, in both domestic and international markets, are studied and brought to the notice of high level committees, such as Committee of Secretaries (COS), Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), through agenda notes prepared for their meetings, for appropriate action at the policy level. This note reviews the following: - Inflation based on Wholesale Price Index. - Area and Production of major food crops. - Price scenario of Essential Commodities - Commodity-wise details for wheat, rice, sugar, pulses, edible oils, vegetables and milk containing Area and Production scenario, Procurement scenario, domestic and international prices, and World Markets and Trade Scenario for the specific commodity. The decisions taken at the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) / Committee of Secretaries (COS) meetings are conveyed to the Ministries /Departments concerned to take appropriate action. The decisions taken in these meetings are implemented by the Ministry/Department concerned which is charged with the responsibility of the subject matter of the decision. Department of Consumer Affairs (PMC) monitors the action taken on those decisions by the concerned Ministries/Departments and submits the action taken report before the Cabinet/CCEA/COS.

F. Price Analysis and Policy Intervention

The prevailing price situation as well as factors which impact on prices, in both domestic and international markets, are studied and brought to the notice of high level committees, such as Committee of Secretaries (COS), Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), through agenda notes prepared for their meetings, for appropriate action at the policy level. This note reviews the following:

- Inflation based on Wholesale Price Index.

- Area and Production of major food crops.

- Price scenario of Essential Commodities

- Commodity-wise details for wheat, rice, sugar, pulses, edible oils, vegetables and milk containing Area and Production scenario, Procurement scenario, domestic and international prices, and World Markets and Trade Scenario for the specific commodity.

The decisions taken at the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) / Committee of Secretaries (COS) meetings are conveyed to the Ministries /Departments concerned to take appropriate action. The decisions taken in these meetings are implemented by the Ministry/Department concerned which is charged with the responsibility of the subject matter of the decision. Department of Consumer Affairs (PMC) monitors the action taken on those decisions by the concerned Ministries/Departments and submits the action taken report before the Cabinet/CCEA/COS.

G. Market Interventions
1.1	The Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) was set up in 2014-15 to tackle inflationary trends of some agri- horticultural commodities viz. onion, potatoes and pulses to protect the interests of consumers. These commodities would be procured and stored for regulated release to help moderate the prices. Such market intervention by Government would not only help send the appropriate market signal but also deter speculative/hoarding activities. To begin with, the Fund was to be used only for market interventions in case of perishable agri-horticultural commodities such as onion and potato which showed extreme volatility of prices. Subsequently, pulses were also covered. As per the scheme, the PSF is to be used to grant interest free advance of working capita to Central Agencies, State/UT Governments/Agencies to undertake such market intervention operations. Apart from domestic procurement from farmers/wholesale mandis, imports may also be undertaken under PSF for building adequate buffer at reasonable cost.
1.2	Interest free advances from the PSF corpus may be made both to Central Agencies and to State level Corpus. The State level Corpus is created with a sharing pattern between GoI and State in the ratio of 50: 50, which is 75:25 in case the North Eastern States. In the States/UTs, the price stabilization operations are to be managed by the State level PSFMC and operated out of the State level Corpus Fund.
1.3	DoCA, implements PSF to mitigate the hardships to consumers on account of price volatility in agri-horticulutral commodities. The basic objective of PSF scheme is to protect the consumers from extreme volatility in prices of agri- horticultural commodities and to make essential food commodities available at reasonable prices. Under the PSF scheme, strategic buffer stock of pulses and onion are maintained by procuring from domestic as well as imported sources for calibrated release to discourage hoarding, unscrupulous speculation and for supplies to consumers at reasonable prices. PSF interventions have also been undertaken in perishable commodities like Onion, Tomato by procuring from source markets and for retail distribution in major consumption centres at discounted prices to nudge the market for bringing prices down. DoCA undertakes procurement of pulses at other than MSP.
1.4	The PSF is consumer orientated scheme which works for the interest of consumer side. Calibrated release of pulses through PSF Buffer keep the prices of pulses almost stable for the benefit of consumer. DoCA keep a close watch on market through its Price Monitoring Division. PMD intimates any abnormal rise in prices of pulses to the higher Authority. Also, there are several meetings like IMC, GoM, CoS etc regarding “Review of Prices of Essential Commodities” where Government also keep close watch on prices of pulses also.
1.5	Utilization of buffer stock of pulses: Government has taken a decision that all Ministries/Department having schemes with nutrition component or providing food/ catering/hospitality services would utilize pulses from the central buffer. Pulses from the buffer has been utilised for PDS distribution, in Mid-day Meal Scheme and ICDS Scheme. In addition, pulses from the buffer are being utilized to meet the requirement of Army and Central Para-Military Forces. The balance stock is disposed in market, based on considerations like shelf life, efficient buffer management, market prices etc. Pulses from the buffer were also utilised for distribution of free pulses under the PMGKAY and ANB packages.
1.6	Benefit from buffer stock operations:Creation of buffer stock of pulses has helped in moderating pulses prices.Lower prices of pulses lead to consumer savings.
1.7	Re-building buffer stock of pulses: Government has decided that procurement at MSP would be under PSS of DA&FW and requirement towards building suitable buffer would be met from the PSS stock in case procurement is not required to be undertaken under PSF. Pulses procured under Price Support Scheme (PSS) of Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) have been channelized to PSF to the extent of meeting buffer requirements. This has ensured effective utilisation of PSS stocks towards stabilization efforts as calibrated releases are made from PSF. Thus, harmonization between PSS and PSF has been achieved with remunerative prices being assured to farmers and intervention on the supply side is undertaken to manage their prices in consumer interest.
1.8	The PSF Scheme is under the Umbrella Scheme of PA-AASHA : The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of schemes of Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) on 18.9.2024 to provide remunerative prices to farmers and to control price volatility of essential commodities for consumers.
1.9	Pulses Buffer target :

Government Pulses Buffer Target
Pulse	Target in LMT
Tur	10.00
Moong	1.00
Urad	4.00
Chana	10.00
Masur	10.00
Total	35.00

H. Parliament Question and RTI
In addition to the above, Price Monitoring Division also handles Parliament questions and RTIs relating to prices and market intervention schemes.

Onion
The Government maintains onion buffer under the PSF for calibrated release during the lean availability months and check the volatility in prices. In 2024-25, a total of 4.70 LMT of onion had been procured from rabi crop through NAFED and NCCF during May - August, 2024.

Bharat Dals
To make dals available to consumers at affordable prices, Bharat Dal has been launched in July, 2023 by converting Chana stock in the PSF into Chana dal for retail disposal. The Bharat Chana Dal is made available to the consumers at subsidized rates of Rs.60 per kg for 1 kg pack and Rs.55 per kg for 30 kg pack. About 12.32 LMT of Bharat Chana Dal has been sold to retail consumers till 04.11.2024. The Bharat Dal has been extended to include Moong Dal by converting Moong stock from the buffer into Moong Dal and Moong Sabut for retail sale to the consumers at subsidized prices of Rs.107 per kg and Rs.93 per kg respectively. Bharat Dal (Chana) Phase-II has been launched on 23rd October, 2024, wherein Department of Consumer Affairs allocated 3.0 LMT raw chana from Buffer stocks to NCCF, NAFED & Kendriya Bhandar for retail sale under Bharat Brand at MRP of Rs. 70 per kg for Bharat Chana Dal and at MRP of Rs. 58 per kg for Bharat Chana Whole.

Bharat Dals

To make dals available to consumers at affordable prices, Bharat Dal has been launched in July, 2023 by converting Chana stock in the PSF into Chana dal for retail disposal. The Bharat Chana Dal is made available to the consumers at subsidized rates of Rs.60 per kg for 1 kg pack and Rs.55 per kg for 30 kg pack. About 12.32 LMT of Bharat Chana Dal has been sold to retail consumers till 04.11.2024. The Bharat Dal has been extended to include Moong Dal by converting Moong stock from the buffer into Moong Dal and Moong Sabut for retail sale to the consumers at subsidized prices of Rs.107 per kg and Rs.93 per kg respectively. Bharat Dal (Chana) Phase-II has been launched on 23rd October, 2024, wherein Department of Consumer Affairs allocated 3.0 LMT raw chana from Buffer stocks to NCCF, NAFED & Kendriya Bhandar for retail sale under Bharat Brand at MRP of Rs. 70 per kg for Bharat Chana Dal and at MRP of Rs. 58 per kg for Bharat Chana Whole.

Price Stabilisation Fund
Title	Action
Policy for Disposal of Pulses from Buffer cretaed under the PSF - reg.	Download(3.02MB)
Operational Guidelines for PRICE STABILISATION FUND (PSF)	Download(640.17KB)
DO letter from AS(DoCA) to States/UT dated 23.08.2021 requesting them for creation of State level PSF	Download(1.37MB)
Final report -Development of Protocols for Shelf Life, Safe Storage, Milling Outturn and Indicative Norms for Procurement of Major Pulses	Download(1.41MB)

Guidelines of Scheme for Strengthening of Price Monitoring Cell in States and UTs

Download(3.8MB)

Distribution of Pulses/ Chana (Whole) under PMGKAY and ANB

Download(121KB)

Last updated on: 24-04-2025