₹62 Onion, consumers Cry, Government Points at Middlemen

The Union government has blamed black marketing, hoarding and profiteering for the recent rise in onion prices, as the vegetable touched ₹62 per kg in Delhi on August 27, 2026. In response, the government said onions would be sold to consumers at a subsidised retail price of ₹35 per kg through designated mobile vans in Delhi and other cities. The move is intended to provide immediate relief to consumers facing higher prices in the open market. The Consumer Affairs Ministry said the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (Nafed) and the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India Limited (NCCF) would undertake the discounted retail sales as part of the government's price stabilisation measures. The onions will also be made available through Nafed and NCCF retail outlets and Kendriya Bhandars, according to the ministry. ₹62 in the market, ₹35 in government vans The price gap is likely to be the most noticeable part of the government intervention. While consumers in Delhi were paying around ₹62 per kg in the market, the government backed outlets will offer onions for ₹35 per kg. The government has attributed the sharp increase to practices such as hoarding and profiteering, suggesting that action against such activities, along with the release of onions through subsidised channels, can help moderate prices. For consumers, however, the immediate concern is straightforward- how quickly the cheaper onions reach neighbourhood markets and how widely they are available. The intervention also highlights the challenge of keeping essential food items affordable when retail prices rise sharply. While discounted sales can provide short term relief, sustained price stability can also depend on factors across the supply chain, including availability, transportation, storage and market conditions. Government steps in as onion prices rise The decision to sell onions at ₹35 per kg is part of the government broader price stabilisation effort. By using agencies such as Nafed and NCCF, the Centre is seeking to increase the availability of onions at controlled prices and reduce pressure on consumers. Whether the measure brings down market prices more broadly will depend on its scale, duration and reach. For now, Delhi's onion shoppers face a familiar contradiction- ₹62 at the market, ₹35 through government backed sales, provided they can find the mobile van or outlet selling it