Centre Sells Buffer Onions at ₹35/kg in Delhi-NCR to Curb Price Rise

The Centre has stepped up measures to keep onion prices under control by making buffer stock onions available at ₹35 per kg through retail outlets and mobile distribution points across Delhi-NCR.

The intervention by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is aimed at ensuring adequate availability of onions, improving consumer access and moderating price pressures amid prevailing market conditions.

As part of the initiative, the government is using the Kanda Express logistics mechanism to move buffer onions from major producing regions to key consumption centres. The initiative has significantly expanded its reach over the past two years, strengthening the government’s ability to respond to fluctuations in onion prices.

During 2024-25, nearly 12,000 metric tonnes (MT) of buffer onions were transported through 14 railway rakes to five cities. The operation was expanded substantially in 2025-26, when 86 railway rakes transported around 88,000 MT of onions to 16 cities across the country.

For the ongoing intervention, onions are being transported through a combination of rail and road networks to ensure timely supplies. The Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) has also been brought into the distribution mechanism to support scientific storage and efficient movement of buffer stocks.

Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, flagged off mobile vans operated by the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) and NAFED from Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi on Thursday. The move marked the beginning of retail sales of onions from government buffer stocks at ₹35 per kg.

The government said the calibrated market intervention is intended to maintain supply stability while protecting consumers from excessive price volatility. The measures are expected to help bridge supply gaps in major markets and ensure onions remain available to consumers at a more affordable price.