Uttarakhand Government to Track Sugar Purchases Through GST Returns, Sets 15-Day Stock Limit:

The state government has introduced a new system to curb sugar hoarding. Instead of depending mainly on raids, authorities will now closely monitor sugar purchases and consumption to detect and prevent excessive stockpiling.

Sugar purchases made by large consumers from sugar mills and dealers will be tracked through GST returns. The government will compare the amount of sugar purchased with the amount actually used. If there is a major difference, it will be checked whether the extra sugar is being stored or hoarded.

On August 19, the Department of Food and Public Distribution fixed stock limits for large sugar consumers. Under the new rule, consumers using more than 10 metric tonnes of sugar every month will not be allowed to keep more than 15 days' stock.

The new system will come into effect from September 1, 2026, and will remain in place until November 30, 2026. The government aims to ensure adequate sugar availability in the market and prevent unnecessary stockpiling.

The government will decide who qualifies as a large sugar consumer based on their average monthly consumption over the past year. If an establishment used more than 10 metric tonnes of sugar per month on average, excluding the current month, it will be considered a large consumer.

Such large consumers will be allowed to keep only up to 15 days’ worth of their average sugar requirement. This means businesses will not be allowed to build up large stocks of sugar beyond the prescribed limit.

Government institutions will be exempt from these stock limits. This includes institutions under the central government, state governments, Union Territory administrations and local bodies.

For large private-sector consumers, the 15-day stock limit will be compulsory. Under the new system, large buyers will need to show that their sugar purchases match their actual consumption, rather than simply keeping large quantities in stock.