Bharat rice soon at ₹25/kg to cool price

Discounted sale to take place through Safal, government agencies, mobile vans

- Puja Das

After Bharat atta (wheat flour) and Bharat dal (pulses), the Centre is now planning to sell Bharat rice at discounted rates to contain rising cereal prices ahead of next year's general elections, a senior official said.

Bharat rice could be offered at 725 a kg through government agencies, such as the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed), National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Ltd (NCCF), Kendriya Bhandar outlets and mobile vans, the official said on the condition of anonymity.

The move comes at a time the all-India average retail price of rice has touched ₹43.3 a kg, up 14.1% from a year ago, according to latest consumer affairs ministry data.

On the rationale behind the plan, the official said, "There is always one motive: curtailing prices and, thus, inflation." Queries sent to the consumer affairs, food and public distribution ministry remained unanswered till the press time.

Currently, the government sells wheat flour and chana dal (split chickpeas) to consumers under the Bharat brand at concessional rates of ₹27.50 a kg and 260 a kg, respectively.