(a)the rate of inflation of pulses and factors responsible for the same during each of the last 14 weeks along with the reaction of the Government thereto, commodity-wise;
(b)whether India has entered into a contract with third world countries in connection with the rising inflation in certain commodities;
(c)if so, the details thereof; and
(d)the steps taken or proposed to be taken to reign in inflation in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a) The Central Statistics Office releases inflation based on Consumer Price Index (Combined) on a monthly basis. The rate of inflation of pulses and products in terms of Consumer Price Index (Combined) for the last three months is given in Table 1 below. High inflation in pulses is mainly on account of low production due to two successive drought years. According to the latest estimates (third advance estimates 2015-16) released by Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, the total pulses production in the country during 2014-15 was 17.15 million tonnes as against 19.25 million tonnes in 2013-14 and is estimated to be 17.06 million tonnes in 2015-16.
Table 1: Inflation in Pulses & products
in terms of Consumer Price Index Combined) (in per cent)
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Apr-16 May-16 Jun-16 (P)
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Pulses & products 34.2 31.6 26.9
Arhar, tur 55.1 49.1 39.7
Gram: split 29.2 28.0 27.3
Gram: whole 24.0 24.3 24.0
Moong 10.7 9.3 6.9
Masur 19.5 16.9 13.2
Urd 52.4 49.6 43.7
Peas 7.8 10.7 10.9
Khesari 22.2 22.5 19.0
Other pulses 12.3 13.3 11.6
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Source: CSO P: Provisional
(b) & (c) To mitigate the shortfall in availability of pulses and supplement the existing efforts at meeting the requirements, Government has entered into long term Government-to-Government (G2G) arrangement with Mozambique so as to ensure assured availability of pulses. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mozambique provides for import of pulses either through the private channels or G2G sales through State Agencies nominated by the two countries.
(d) The Government has undertaken a number of measures to curb inflation, in particular, food inflation. The steps taken, inter alia, include, (i) increased allocation of Rs 900 crore for Price Stabilization Fund in the budget 2016-17 to check volatility of prices of essential commodities, in particular of pulses. (ii) decision taken to create buffer stock of Kharif and Rabi pulses through domestic procurement and imports; (iii) announced higher Minimum Support Prices so as to incentivize production; (iv) issued advisory to States/UTs to take strict action against hoarding and black marketing under the Essential Commodities Act 1955 and the Prevention of Black-marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980; (v) imposed 20 per cent duty on export of sugar.
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