{"id":118993,"date":"2024-07-10T19:30:12","date_gmt":"2024-07-10T14:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=118993"},"modified":"2025-02-13T15:59:11","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T10:29:11","slug":"creating-a-buffer-stock-of-essential-food","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/creating-a-buffer-stock-of-essential-food","title":{"rendered":"Creating a Buffer Stock of Essential Food Items to Stabilise Prices"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The government should consider building a buffer stock of essential food items beyond just rice and wheat, including pulses, oilseeds, sugar, skimmed milk powder (SMP), and staple vegetables, to address the increasing volatility and unpredictability of food prices.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Buffer Stock<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>About: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A buffer stock is an <\/span><b>excess stock of goods or commodities than what is required for a specific purpose.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Introduced in:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The concept of buffer stock was<\/span><b> first introduced during the 4th\u00a0 Five Year Plan (1969-74).<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100.099%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%;\">\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Food Security and its Dimensions<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Food Security: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on the <\/span><b>1996 World Food Summit,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/india-food-security-evolution\/\"> Food Security<\/a> is defined when <\/span><b>all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Four Dimensions of Food Security<\/b><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Physical Availability of Food: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Determined by food production, stock levels, and net trade.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Economic and Physical Access to Food:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Focus on incomes, expenditure, markets, and prices to ensure household-level food security.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Food Utilisation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Efficient use of nutrients through good care, feeding practices, diverse diets, and proper food preparation.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Stability Over Time:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Consistent access to food despite adverse conditions like weather, political instability, or economic challenges.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Operational Mechanism:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Governments use the buffer stock scheme <\/span><b>where they buy commodities and goods during times of surplus and then sell those goods at times of economic shortage.\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>During times of shortages, prices go up, but if reserves from the buffer stock are released then due to the increased availability of goods the prices begin to drop again.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Motive of Maintaining Buffer Stock:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Price Stabilisation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To<\/span><b> keep prices of goods and commodities stable.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Economic Stability:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> To <\/span><b>prevent economic shocks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a result of shortages.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The objective is <\/span><b>not to set prices or replace the market.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Responsible Body:<\/b> <b>Food Corporation of India (FCI) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is responsible for <\/span><b>procuring, storing, and distributing food grains and other essential commodities.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Buffer Stock Norms<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>About Buffer Stock Norms: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buffer norms refer to the <\/span><b>minimum quantity of food grains that the Centre must maintain in the Central pool at the start of each quarter <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to fulfil the requirements of the public distribution system and other welfare initiatives.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Buffer Stock Norms set by: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs sets minimum buffer norms <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">quarterly for each financial year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Status of Buffer Stock as on 2023:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> As of April 1, 2023, the central pool is expected to hold around <\/span><b>113 LMT of wheat and 237 LMT of rice,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> surpassing the buffer norms of 75 LMT for wheat and 136 LMT for rice (PIB Data).<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Central pool includes operational stocks and strategic reserves.\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Operational stocks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are meant to meet the monthly requirements under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Strategic reserves\/food security stocks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are meant to meet any shortfalls in future procurement.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Reasons for Buffer Stock Maintenance<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Distribution of Foodgrains in Deficit Areas: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The purpose of creating a buffer stock is to distribute food grains in <\/span><b>deficit areas<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and among the poorer sections of society at a price lower than the market price (also known as Issue Price) during adverse conditions or calamities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Climate Change:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Fewer rainy days and extended dry spells.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Intense precipitation events.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Shorter winters and more frequent heat waves.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Poor yields of crops:\u00a0 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adverse climate effects have resulted in <\/span><b>poor yields for rabi pulses, tomato, potato, and wheat in central India.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Price Volatility: Supply shocks, driven by climate change, war, or pandemics,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> cause significant price spikes.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Increasing volatility and unpredictability in food prices primarily due to climate change.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Farmers respond to price spikes by significantly increasing production, leading to steep price declines.<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Example: Last year, dairies paid Rs 37-38 per litre for cow milk. Current prices have dropped to <\/span><b>Rs 26-27 per litre <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">due to falling Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP) realisations <\/span><b>(Rs 200-210 per kg from Rs 315-320).<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Prevent Shortages and Inflation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintaining a buffer stock can help prevent shortages and curb inflation by<\/span><b> stabilising prices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When low prices discourage production, buffer stocks can be released to ensure supply meets demand, avoiding severe price spikes and inflation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This ensures consistent availability of essential food items, benefiting both consumers and producers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Continuation of Welfare Schemes:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Buffer stocks are also necessary so that the Government can meet the <\/span><b>requirements of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and other welfare schemes such as\u00a0 the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+CSE+Books\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC CSE Books From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Benefits of Creating a Buffer Stock of Essential Food Items<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Procurement and Distribution:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Procure from farmers\/processors <\/span><b>during surplus years and offload during crop failures.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Evening Out Price Fluctuations:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Helps stabilise extreme price fluctuations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Low Fiscal Cost:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Stocked commodities, such as potato, onion, and tomato (which can be stored in dehydrated forms like flakes, paste, and puree), are disposed of at<\/span><b> near-market rates during scarcity\/inflationary periods.<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Historical Success:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Government&#8217;s open market sales of wheat and chana from accumulated stocks have previously helped moderate cereal and pulses inflation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Eliminates Need for Regressive Measures: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduces the necessity for <\/span><b>anti-farmer measures like banning exports or imposing stock limits on private traders and processors.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Issues Associated with the Management of Buffer Stocks<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Damaged Stock:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> According to a CAG report, 1.06 lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains worth Rs 121.93 crore were <\/span><b>damaged due to FCI\u2019s failure to adhere to the first-in-first-out principle<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from 2006-07 to 2011-12.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Operational Oversight and Lack of Fiscal Discipline: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FCI incurred an additional Rs 376 crore in unwanted expenditure over the same period, indicating a<\/span><b> lack of fiscal discipline and operational oversight.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rising Operational Costs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mandi fees, MSP hikes, bonuses, and administrative expenses swell the Food Corporation of India\u2019s (FCI) economic cost of food grain management.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The costs are about <\/span><b>40% higher<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> than procurement prices, affecting overall efficiency.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Pest Infestation and Spoilage:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Due to p<\/span><b>oor storage conditions, significant quantities of grains are lost to pest infestations.\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2019, FCI reported a loss of around <\/span><b>62,000 metric tonnes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of wheat due to pests.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Quality Degradation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reports from the Commission for <\/span><b>Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have pointed <\/span><b>out the degradation of the nutritional quality in the grains due to prolonged storage, impacting market value and consumer health.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Corruption and Diversion: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instances like the 2012 <\/span><b>Bihar food grain scam reveal the vulnerability of buffer stocks to diversion and corruption.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Natural Calamities and Climate Change: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Climate change impacts, like <\/span><b>unexpected flooding, have affected buffer stock quality, as seen in the 2018 Kerala floods, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">which damaged stored grains.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Measures to Optimise Management of Buffer Stocks<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Storage Optimisation:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Decentralised Procurement: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per the <\/span><b>Shanta Kumar Committee\u2019s <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">recommendations<\/span><b>&#8211; States with a surplus produce can directly contribute to the central pool, reducing transit time and storage pressure on FCI.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Involving Private Sector: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I<\/span><b>ncorporating the Private Entrepreneur Guarantee (PEG) scheme and private entities in stocking operations alongside Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and State Warehousing Corporation (SWC)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can optimise storage with improved infrastructure and reduced overhead costs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (NWR) System: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promoting the NWR system allows farmers <\/span><b>to store produce in certified warehouses, enhancing systematic storage and easing pressure on FCI godowns.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Efficient Storage Management<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Transparent Liquidation Policy: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implement <\/span><b>automated surplus stock liquidation to prevent grain spoilage. Surplus can be sold in the open market or exported to prevent wastage.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Improved Infrastructure: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upgrade storage facilities with better ventilation, moisture control, and rodent-proofing to significantly reduce current loss percentages due to poor conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Robust Monitoring Systems: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use <\/span><b>sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) devices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for real-time monitoring to maintain grain quality, providing alerts on environmental changes that could lead to wastage.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Regular checks and dynamic maintenance practices detect spoilage risks early, enabling timely interventions to reduce wastage.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Efficient and Effective Distribution:\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Outsourcing Last-Mile Distribution: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utilise <\/span><b>Self-help groups (SHG\u2019s) and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to ensure efficient food aid delivery to remote areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implement <\/span><b>DBT to streamline subsidies, reduce pilferage, and ensure timely delivery of benefits to intended beneficiaries.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Restructuring FCI\u2019s Role: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FCI should focus on <\/span><b>need-based procurement<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, especially from states lacking procurement infrastructure like <\/span><b>eastern and north-eastern states, facilitating efficient grain distribution from surplus to deficit regions.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.8981%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%;\">\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO)<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>About:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations) are<\/span><b> voluntary organisations controlled by farmer-members.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Membership: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Membership is <\/span><b>open to all, without discrimination<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> based on gender, social, racial, political, or religious factors.<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">FPOs provide education and training for members, representatives, managers, and employees.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Examples of successful FPO\u2019s:\u00a0 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Food Corporation of India (FCI)<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>About: Food Corporation of India (FCI) is a statutory body set up in 1965 under the Food Corporations Act 1964.\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Established: It was established in 1965 under the Food Corporations Act, 1964<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> against the backdrop of a major shortage of grains, especially wheat.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Concerned Ministry:\u00a0 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is a Public Sector Undertaking, under the Department of Food &#038; Public Distribution, <\/span><b>Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Headquarters: New Delhi<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 16pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Minimum Support Price (MSP)<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>About:\u00a0 The Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a government-set price at which it buys crops directly from farmers, ensuring they receive a minimum profit for their harvest, regardless of market fluctuations.\u00a0<\/b><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>It aims to protect farmers from distress sales and price volatility.\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Recommended by: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MSP is recommended by the <\/span><b>Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which considers factors like production cost, demand and supply, market price trends, and inter-crop price parity.<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>CACP, an office under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, was established in January 1965.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Final decision: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">makes the final decision on MSP levels.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Buffer stocking can serve as a tool to curb excessive volatility in food prices, much like how the RBI\u2019s foreign exchange reserves stabilise the currency market.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rising climate-driven price volatility, which benefits neither consumers nor producers, further supports the need for a food buffer policy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 100.228%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 138.118%; 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text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/quiz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Current Affairs Quiz<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 87.582%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Main Answer Writing<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 138.118%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\" colspan=\"2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+CSE+Books\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC CSE Books From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The government should consider building a buffer stock of essential food items beyond just rice and wheat, including pulses, oilseeds, sugar, skimmed milk powder (SMP), and staple vegetables, to address the increasing volatility and unpredictability of food prices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":119190,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[2089],"subject":[2100],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/118993"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/current-affairs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118993"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/118993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":119081,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/118993\/revisions\/119081"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/119190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118993"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=118993"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=118993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}