Only About 21% Wheat Likely to Be Sold Under OMSS Allocation

27-Feb-2026 01:24 PM

New Delhi: Under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS), the Food Corporation of India (FCI) was allocated a quota of 3 million tonnes of wheat for sale during the 2025–26 financial year. However, considering the slow pace of sales so far, it appears that only about 20–25 percent of the allocated quantity may ultimately be lifted.

The main reason is the availability of adequate wheat stocks in domestic mandis at competitive prices, which has reduced the interest of millers and processors in purchasing government wheat.

So far, eight e-auctions have been conducted by the FCI under OMSS, resulting in total sales of around 0.634 million tonnes, which is only about 21 percent of the allocated 3 million tonnes. There are now indications that the auction process may be discontinued. If that happens, the current sales volume may be treated as the final figure.

From the perspective of wheat sales, 2025–26 may turn out to be one of the weakest financial years. In the most recent auction rounds, only 40–50 percent of the offered quantity was sold.

The FCI believes that millers are showing limited interest in purchasing government wheat, and therefore discontinuing OMSS sales may be a more practical option.