Centre plans stringent steps to rein in sticky food inflation

Inflation of such magnitude is bad news politically and economically, especially a year before the national election

The Centre is considering more stringent steps to control soaring food prices, as inflation in July saw a huge spike led by cereals and vegetables, Union food secretary Sanjeev Chopra has said.

Vegetables on sale at Azadpur Mandi, in New Delhi, amid soaring prices. (PTI)

Battling high prices since April 2022, triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Union government has taken a range of steps to cool food prices, especially cereals, using virtually all measures from its inflation-control playbook, barring some extreme decisions, such as government-to-government cereal import. But with the climate