Government of India

Ministry of Consumer Affairs,

Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1529

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.05.2016

PRICE OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES 

1529. SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE:

(OIH) SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI: MAJ GEN B C KHANDURI AVSM (Retd):

DR. P. VENUGOPAL: Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION  be pleased to state:

(a) the criteria and norms for fixation of the prices of essential commodities in the country;

(b) whether there has been unprecedented rise in prices of essential commodities including vegetables and pulses in the country, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(c) the corrective steps, including imports, being undertaken by the Government to contain/stabalise the prices of above commodities; and

(d) whether any cases of hoarding of essential commodities including grains and pulses have been reported/detected during the last three years, if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken/proposed in this regard? 

ANSWER  THE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN) 

(a) : Prices of food items are largely market determined except for subsidised food items distributed through Public Distribution System.

(b) : The requisite details based on the Wholesale Price Index (2004-05) is given below:

(c) : The requisite information is at Annexure I.

(d) : The requisite information is at Annexure II.