Rice Stock Limits in South: Centre Doubles OMSS Sale to 50 LMT

The Centre on Friday, 6 November, doubled the rice it plans to sell in the open market this year and ordered every rice and paddy stockholder in the country to declare stocks weekly, according to a release from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. It also cleared stock limits on paddy and rice in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, to be used where those states think they are needed, in a move aimed at keeping rice prices from rising.

Weekly Declarations Every Friday

Under an order dated 6 November, traders, wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers, processors and millers in all states and Union Territories must report their stock every Friday on the Food Stock Portal (foodstock.dfpd.gov.in). Six categories are covered: Basmati rice, non-Basmati premium rice, other non-Basmati rice, parboiled rice, broken rice and paddy.

Entities that do not register, or that break the stock limits, face action under Sections 6 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the ministry said. The southern stock limits run until 31 January 2027.

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Open Market Sale Target Goes From 25 to 50 LMT

The target for rice sold through e-auctions under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic), or OMSS (D), for 2026-27 has been raised from 25 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) to 50 LMT. The ministry said 25 LMT had already been sold to private buyers up to 31 October, against 11 LMT in the same period last year.

More “Bharat Rice”, the government-branded retail rice, will go to NAFED, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar, with a focus on the southern states. The three agencies have been asked to look for more ways to distribute it. The release gives no retail prices.

Southern States Decide on Their Own Limits

The Centre has approved the limits, but each state has to notify them. The release does not say which of the five states plan to do so, or what the caps would be. Earlier IPB reports on household costs are on the Economy page, and the latest official orders are on the Daily Updates page.

Source: PIB release, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, 6 November 2026.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.