India to Decide on Lifting Rice Export Ban: Goyal

New Delhi, Jul 10 (PTI) Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said a Group of Ministers will take a decision on lifting the ban on certain varieties of non-basmati rice after considering demand-supply and price situation.

The Group of Ministers (GoM) always take a balanced decision, he added.

The Centre has banned exports of non-basmati white rice since July 20, 2023, to boost domestic supply.

When asked if the government is considering the removal of ban on rice exports, he said: "These decisions are taken by a Group of Ministers. We meet periodically, assess the production of agri produce, the consumption patterns, price in the retail and wholesale market, and we take a balanced decision".

According to the agriculture ministry's estimates, India's rice production is estimated at 136.7 million tonnes in 2023-24 compared to 135.75 million tonnes in the preceding year.