Good News! Government Selling Onions at Just Rs 24 per Kg in Delhi, Mumbai, and Other Cities

New Delhi: The central government has launched the sale of onions at a subsidized rate of Rs 24 per kilogram in Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad through NCCF, Nafed, and central stock outlets, including mobile vans. The initiative aims to provide onions at affordable prices in areas where the retail price exceeds Rs 30 per kilogram.

On Thursday, September 4, Union Minister of Food, Prahlad Joshi, inaugurated the sale, stating that nearly 25 tons of onions from the buffer stock would be sold in these cities.

"Wherever the retail price of onions exceeds Rs 30 per kilogram, onions will be sold at Rs 24 per kilogram," Joshi told reporters.

The sale of subsidized onions will expand to Chennai, Guwahati, and Kolkata from Friday and is expected to continue until December.

Current Market Prices and Stock

According to official data, the average retail price of onions on Thursday was Rs 28 per kilogram, while in some cities, it crossed Rs 30 per kilogram. The government currently holds a buffer stock of three lakh tons of onions, which were purchased during the 2024-25 financial year at an average price of Rs 15 per kilogram under the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) scheme.

Minister Joshi emphasized that targeted disposal of buffer stock is part of the government’s efforts to control food inflation and maintain price stability.

"The government’s priority is to keep food inflation under control. Various direct interventions to reduce prices have played a key role in lowering inflation in recent months," he said.

Monitoring Inflation

The government monitors the daily prices of 38 essential commodities, including onions, from 574 centers across the country. According to Joshi, general retail inflation for July 2025 stood at 1.55 percent, the lowest in nearly eight years. He added that the significant decline in food inflation is a result of the government’s proactive measures.