Which of the following was/were the necessary steps

Solution

Food inflation based on Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) climbed to 7.0 per cent in FY23 from 3.8 per cent in FY22. Though the increase in food inflation is broad-based, the major contributors are vegetables, cereals, milk and spices. Since September 2022, double-digit inflation has been observed in cereals. To check the soaring prices of wheat and rice, the government has prohibited the export of wheat products and imposed an export duty on rice. To insulate vulnerable sections from the rise in prices, the Government has launched a new integrated food security scheme, ‘Pradhan MantriGaribKalyanAnn Yojana’ on 1 January 2023, to provide free foodgrains to more than 80 crore beneficiaries. Hence, statement 1 is correct. Inflation in pulses remained muted owing to higher production and measures taken by the government in terms of maintaining a buffer stock and reduction of import duties and cess on pulses. Hence, statement 2 is correct. International prices of edible oils surged in FY22 owing to a shortfall in global production and an increase in export tax levies by various countries, it has increased the prices, not decreased. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.