Govt of India Imposes Stock Limits on Wheat to Ensure Food Security and Curb Hoarding

New Delhi: In a decisive move to manage overall food security and prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation, the Government of India has imposed stock limits on wheat across all states and union territories. The new regulations, outlined in the Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs (Amendment) Order, 2024, are effective immediately and will remain in force until 31 March 2025.

The stock limits are defined for various entities as follows:

• Traders/Wholesalers: 3000 metric tonnes (MT)
• Retailers: 10 MT per retail outlet
• Big Chain Retailers: 10 MT per outlet and 3000 MT across all depots
• Processors: 70% of Monthly Installed Capacity (MIC) multiplied by the remaining months of FY 2024-25

All respective legal entities are required to declare their stock positions and regularly update them on the Department of Food and Public Distribution’s portal (https://evegoils.nic.in/wsp/login). If stocks exceed the prescribed limits, entities must reduce their holdings to comply within 30 days of this notification’s issue.