Archive · 22 Jan 2026
Government's Wheat Sale Faces Low Demand
The government is trying to sell extra wheat it has in storage through online auctions.
But not many big buyers like flour millers are interested because wheat prices are stable and there's enough wheat available.
The government has sold only a small amount of wheat so far this year, much less than it planned.
They think they might sell about 1.2 million tonnes this year.
Wheat prices have been low because there's a lot of wheat being grown.
The government is also selling a lot of rice, but it still has too much in storage.
The FCI has sold only 0.35 MT of wheat in FY26 against an allocation of 3 MT.
E-auctions for wheat resumed in late 2025 after a month-long suspension due to low interest.
Wheat prices have remained stable due to record production and ample supply.
The government expects to sell around 1.2 MT of wheat in FY26.
FCI holds 27.12 MT of wheat, exceeding the buffer norm of 13.8 MT.
- Who
- Food Corporation of India (FCI)
- What
- Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) for wheat
- When
- FY26 (ongoing), with e-auctions resuming in late 2025
- Where
- India
- Why
- To offload surplus wheat stocks
- Wheat sold in FY26
- 0.35 MT
- Wheat allocation for FY26
- 3 MT
- Wheat price under OMSS
- Rs 2,550 per quintal
- Current market price in Delhi
- Rs 2,700–2,800 per quintal
- FCI wheat stock
- 27.12 MT
- Buffer norm for wheat
- 13.8 MT
- Wheat production in 2024-25
- 117 MT
- Estimated wheat demand
- 108 MT