India to sell onions at Rs 35 per kg in Delhi amid price surge

The Indian government will begin selling onions at a subsidized price of Rs 35 per kilogram in New Delhi on Thursday, August 27, 2026, as part of a nationwide effort to curb a sharp rise in prices that have reached Rs 55-60 per kg in several major cities. The intervention, announced by the Consumer Affairs Ministry, involves releasing onions from a strategic buffer stock of 1.21 lakh tonnes maintained across producing states for 2026. The retail sale will be conducted through three government agencies: the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed), the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India (NCCF), and Kendriya Bhandar outlets. Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi is scheduled to inaugurate the subsidized sale in the capital. NCCF will initially sell onions through 100 Kendriya Bhandar stores and is in discussions with Mother Dairy to extend sales through its outlets in the Delhi-NCR region. The agency also plans to deploy mobile vans, starting with 15 and increasing to 40, to enhance accessibility. To transport the buffer stock efficiently, the government is using dedicated railway rakes called "Kanda Express.