NEW DELHI — India has doubled its target for rice sales to private traders under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) to 5 million metric tonnes for the 2026-27 financial year, the government said on Friday, as it moved to bring down rice prices that are rising on concerns over production.

Source: Reuters via TradingView

The revised target is double the earlier goal of 25 lakh tonnes. According to the Department of Food and Public Distribution, 25 lakh tonnes had already been sold to private buyers through e-auctions up to October 31, compared with 11 lakh tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

In an order issued on November 6, the Centre also tightened monitoring of rice and paddy stocks across the country. All entities stocking rice and paddy must now register and report their holdings on the Food Stock Portal, the department said.

The Centre has conveyed its concurrence to five southern states — Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana — to impose stock limits through control orders wherever the state governments consider them necessary. The limits may remain in force until January 31, 2027.

Additional quantities of Bharat Rice will also be allocated to NAFED, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar to widen its availability, particularly in the southern states, according to the department.

India supplies roughly 40 to 45 per cent of the rice traded worldwide, so a smaller domestic crop quickly feeds into prices at home and abroad. The government's move to release more grain from its stocks is aimed at cooling domestic prices while keeping enough supply in the market.