NEW DELHI: The Centre has begun a calibrated and targeted release of onions from government buffer stocks as it moves to contain seasonal price pressures and ensure adequate supplies ahead of India’s festive and wedding season.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said onions are being dispatched to major consumption centres using a combination of special railway rakes and road transport, with future releases to be adjusted according to prices, market arrivals and demand.
Onions to Be Sold at ₹35 Per Kg
As part of the intervention, buffer-stock onions will be offered to consumers at ₹35 per kilogram through mobile vans and retail outlets operated by NCCF and NAFED, as well as Safal and Kendriya Bhandar outlets.
The planned retail network includes 9 NCCF outlets and 40 mobile vans, 13 NAFED outlets and 50 mobile vans, and around 100 Kendriya Bhandar outlets.
The government says the targeted sales are designed to improve availability at affordable prices and reduce the impact of seasonal increases on household budgets.
First ‘Kanda Express’ Heads From Nashik to Delhi
A major part of the supply strategy is the Kanda Express, which uses railway rakes to move large quantities of onions rapidly from producing regions to major consumer markets.
The first Kanda Express of the current intervention has departed Nashik for Delhi-NCR, carrying approximately 800 metric tonnes of onions.
Road consignments are simultaneously being dispatched to cities including Chennai, Kolkata, Ernakulam, Guwahati, Varanasi, Lucknow, Patna, Chandigarh, Jammu and Amritsar.
Government Says Onion Supply Remains Comfortable
Despite concerns over rising prices, the government says there is currently no major shortage of onions at the national level.
India’s onion production for 2025-26 is estimated at 307.37 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), almost unchanged from 307.67 LMT in the previous year.
For 2026-27, the Centre set a target of procuring 2 lakh metric tonnes of Rabi onions for the Price Stabilisation Fund buffer.
Procurement began on May 15 through NAFED and NCCF, and approximately 1.21 LMT had been procured for the buffer at the time of the government’s latest update.
Average Retail Onion Price at ₹37.87/kg
According to government data, the all-India average retail onion price stood at ₹37.87 per kilogram on August 26.
For comparison, average retail prices were ₹38.33/kg for tomatoes and ₹22.63/kg for potatoes.
However, prices can differ considerably between cities and markets, which is why the Centre says buffer onions will be directed toward areas experiencing greater price pressure.
Festive and Wedding Demand in Focus
The intervention comes ahead of major festivals including Onam, Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja, Dussehra and Diwali, followed by the wedding season.
Onion prices often face seasonal upward pressure during this period because of higher demand and supply-chain factors.
Rather than releasing the entire buffer at once, authorities plan to adjust quantities and destinations based on market conditions.
Prices Being Monitored Across 579 Centres
The Department of Consumer Affairs currently monitors prices of 41 essential commodities across 579 centres nationwide.
Data on retail prices, mandi arrivals, demand and availability will determine where additional buffer onions are sent.
The government has said that it will expand the scale, geographic coverage and distribution channels of the intervention if market conditions require further action.
The latest move therefore aims to strike a balance between protecting consumers from sharp seasonal price increases and maintaining remunerative prices for farmers.
With buffer releases underway and the Kanda Express carrying supplies toward major cities, the Centre hopes increased market availability will prevent excessive onion-price volatility during the coming festive months.
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