Double Mustard Oil Bonanza for Himachal Ration Card Holders Amid Price Revision

Shimla : In a major relief to millions of families battling inflation, the Himachal Pradesh government has resolved the ongoing mustard oil shortage in fair price shops (depots). Ration card holders across the state will now receive a double supply of mustard oil this month, clearing the previous backlog. This move comes as a financial breather for poor and middle-class households that were forced to buy expensive cooking oil from the open market due to supply disruptions.

The Himachal Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation has initiated a large-scale distribution drive to ensure regular availability. Consumers will receive their pending quota for June along with the current month's allocation simultaneously.

To meet the demand, the Corporation issued a supply order for 8,243,381 liters of mustard oil. Out of this, 1,423,247 liters have already reached various wholesale godowns and are being dispatched to local depots in a phased manner.

While the availability brings relief, consumers will have to shell out slightly more as the government has revised the subsidized rates. Despite the hike, the prices remain significantly lower than the open retail market.

Beneficiary Breakdown in Himachal Pradesh
According to the latest state government data released on July 4, 2026, Himachal Pradesh has a total of 1,958,895 registered ration card holders under the Public Distribution System (PDS). The distribution across various categories highlights the scale of the subsidized food security network in the state:

• Above Poverty Line (APL): 1,160,019 families (The largest consumer segment)
• Priority Households (PHH): 300,795 families
• Below Poverty Line (BPL): 2,76,598 families
• Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): 1,59,658 households (The most vulnerable segment)
• APL Taxpayers: 60,827 ration card holders

"Mustard oil has started arriving at our wholesale godowns. Against the total order of over 82 lakh liters, more than 14 lakh liters have already been received and are being routed to fair price shops to ensure timely delivery to all citizens," said Rajeshwar Goyal, Managing Director of the Himachal Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation.

This dual-allotment strategy is expected to stabilize kitchen budgets across the hill state, offsetting the impact of the minor price revision by eliminating the need for expensive open-market purchases.