Revision of buffer norms of foodgrains in the Central Pool

17 January 2015

Revision of buffer norms of foodgrains in the Central Pool

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to revise the buffer norms of foodgrains in the Central Pool as follows:

(in million tonnes)

As on	Existing since April, 2005	Revised
1^st April	21.2	21.04
1^st July	31.9	41.12
1^st Oct	21.2	30.77
1^st Jan	25.0	21.41

The CCEA has also approved that in case the stock of foodgrains in the Central Pool is more than the revised buffer norms, the Department of Food and Public Distribution will offload excess stock in the domestic market through open sale or through exports. For this purpose an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) consisting of Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution, Secretary, Expenditure and Secretary, Consumer Affairs has been constituted. This will ensure better management of food stocks in the country.

Background:

The present buffer norms for foodgrains in the Central Pool are in existence since April, 2005. The offtake of foodgrains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) has increased significantly in the last few years. Further, the National Food Security Act has also come into force w.e.f. 5.7.2013.