EconomyFriday, 21 August 2026·The Hindu - National
Duty-free raw sugar import of 10 lakh tonnes allowed till October 31, 2026
The government allowed duty-free import of 10 lakh tonnes of raw sugar under TRQ till October 31, 2026, and imposed stock limits on bulk consumers.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On August 20, 2026, the government allowed duty-free import of 10 lakh tonnes of raw sugar under a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) until October 31, 2026, to improve domestic availability and check price rise.
Key specifics
- The DGFT notification covers 10 lakh MT of raw sugar under TRQ.
- The application window for millers and refiners runs from August 21, 2026 to August 28, 2026.
- Bulk consumers using more than 10 tonnes of sugar a month cannot hold stock beyond 15 days’ consumption.
- The Sugar (Stockholding Limit of Bulk Consumers) Order, 2026 comes into force on September 1 and remains effective till November 30.
- Retail sugar prices were reported at ₹52.30 per kg on August 18, 2026, up from ₹46.34 a year earlier.
Exam lens
Question type: Economy and trade policy, TRQ, DGFT, stockholding limits, price data. TNPSC may ask the meaning of Tariff Rate Quota and the dates of the sugar import window.