Revised rates affect APL beneficiaries
The Himachal Pradesh Public Distribution System has lifted the prices of two everyday essentials for families possessing Above Poverty Line (APL) cards. Sugar is now priced at ₹52 per kilogram, up from ₹48, while the cost of urad dal has risen to ₹117 per kilogram from ₹112.
The adjustments come just as the holiday season intensifies spending on sweets, snacks and traditional meals, making the higher sugar cost especially burdensome for celebratory cooking.
Stock gaps reported at certain outlets
In parallel with the price changes, several government warehouses have flagged temporary shortages. In a handful of districts, urad dal and mustard oil have been completely depleted at some depots, disrupting the regular supply chain to ration shops.
These interruptions compound the worries of shoppers who are already navigating the pre‑festive surge in demand for basic food items.
One‑kilogram flour boost eases the pinch
To soften the impact of the price rise, the state has introduced a modest relief measure. Throughout October, every ration‑card holder will receive an extra kilogram of wheat flour, raising the monthly allotment to 13 kg instead of the standard 12 kg.
The additional kilogram is intended to provide a small financial cushion as households contend with the higher costs of sugar and urad dal.
For APL families, however, the new pricing structure means a larger outlay for these two commodities, and the intermittent depot shortages add another layer of difficulty during the festive budgeting period.
