Govt plans to sell FCI rice under Bharat brand; price not yet decided
The Hindu
Government considering proposal to sell FCI rice under 'Bharat' brand to check rice inflation, decision on discounted rate pending.
In order to check rice inflation, the Government is considering a proposal to sell FCI (Food Corporation of India) rice under the 'Bharat' brand but the discounted rate has not yet been decided, a Food Ministry official said. x
The Ministry's efforts to check retail rice prices by boosting domestic availability through sale of FCI rice via e-auction under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) has received a lukewarm response.
"There is a proposal to retail 'Bharat rice' but the price has not yet been decided," the official told PTI on December 27.
Under the OMSS, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is offering quality rice at a reserve price of ₹29 per kg. "Whether to sell Bharat rice at the same rate or reduced rate, the decision has to be taken by the Group of Ministers," the official added.
The Government is already selling wheat flour (atta) and pulses under the Bharat brand through outlets managed by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), National Cooperative Consumers' Federation (NCCF) and Kendriya Bhandar.
FCI has been able to sell only 3.04 lakh tonnes of rice under OMSS so far this year. In case of wheat, the nodal agency has sold 82.89 lakh tonnes wheat under OMSS, as per the official data.
Rice inflation is at 13% year-on-year and the Government is concerned about key food prices ahead of 2024 general elections.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.
The 16th edition of Bhoomi Habba was held on June 8, at the Visthar campus. The festival drew a vibrant crowd who came together to celebrate eco-consciousness through a variety of engaging activities, creative workshops, panel discussions, interactive exhibits and performances, all centered around this year’s theme: “Save Water, Save Lives.”