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Onion Prices Soar in Metros Despite Government Subsidies
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News18•22-09-2026, 19:45
Onion Prices Soar in Metros Despite Government Subsidies
- •Onion prices in metro cities ranged from Rs 53 to Rs 60 per kg on Tuesday, September 22, despite the government's subsidized sale at Rs 35 per kg.
- •Delhi recorded Rs 53 per kg, Mumbai Rs 58 per kg, while Kolkata and Chennai saw the highest rates at Rs 60 per kg.
- •The all-India average retail price of onion was Rs 54.2 per kg, with a maximum of Rs 100 per kg and a minimum of Rs 29 per kg.
- •Private trade data indicated higher retail prices, with Delhi reportedly selling onions between Rs 60-70 per kg, exceeding the ministry's reported Rs 53 per kg.
- •The government is using its buffer stock of 1.21 lakh tonnes, moved by "Kanda Express" and road, to supply onions at Rs 35 per kg in over 50 cities.
Key Questions Answered
Despite the government selling buffer stock at a subsidised rate of Rs 35 per kg, retail onion prices across major metro cities ranged between Rs 53 and Rs 60 per kg on September 22, 2026, with Chennai and Kolkata recording the highest rates at Rs 60 per kg each.
The central government, operating through its nodal agencies NCCF and Nafed, is holding a buffer stock of 1.21 lakh tonnes of onion for the year 2026 to help control retail prices.
Nodal agencies are moving stored onions in bulk from producing states to consuming centers either by road or via a dedicated special rail rake known as the "Kanda Express" as part of retail price intervention efforts.
