Ramesh Chand committee to examine sugarcane farmers’ and sugar sector issues
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UPSC has already asked about this. Read the story with these questions in mind.
On 14 October 2026 the Centre set up a committee under Prof. Ramesh Chand, former NITI Aayog Member, on issues raised by sugarcane farmers. It will examine returns to cane growers, the ex-mill Minimum Selling Price of sugar, how sugar recovery is tested, weighment at mills, and deductions on mechanically harvested cane.
- Set up
- 14 Oct 2026
- Chair
- Prof. Ramesh Chand
- Ministry
- Consumer Affairs, Food & PD
- Trigger
- Cane farmers' meeting
The sugarcane committee: what happened?
Cane farmers say their returns do not match costs, and that mills under-weigh cane or cut weight for machine-harvested crop. Mills say sugar prices do not cover their costs. The committee is asked to look at both sides.
- On 14 October 2026 the Centre set up a committee chaired by Prof. Ramesh Chand, former Member of NITI Aayog, to examine issues raised by sugarcane farmers.
- It will look at remunerative returns to cane farmers, revision of the ex-mill Minimum Selling Price of sugar, sugar recovery testing, weighment practices at mills, and weight deductions on mechanically harvested cane.
What will the committee examine?
- Remunerative returns to cane farmers, keeping cultivation costs in view.
- Revision of the ex-mill Minimum Selling Price (MSP) of sugar, given production costs, market realisation and mill finances.
- How sugar recovery is tested and reported, and how it can be verified transparently.
- Weighment at mills: calibration, inspection and verification.
- Weight deductions on mechanically harvested cane, and the actual losses, if any.
Who is on it?
- Chair: Prof. Ramesh Chand, agricultural economist; NITI Aayog Member from 2015 to 2026; earlier Director of ICAR-NIAP and Member of the Fifteenth Finance Commission.
- Members from Agriculture, Food and Public Distribution, and Legal Metrology.
Why does the sugarcane committee matter?
- Farmers: Cane price and fair weighing decide what a grower actually takes home.
- Industry: Sugar MSP decides whether mills can pay cane dues on time.
- Governance: Legal Metrology on the panel shows weighing disputes are treated as a consumer-protection issue too.
What can Prelims ask on the sugarcane committee?
- Chair: Prof. Ramesh Chand (former NITI Aayog Member).
- Issues: cane returns, ex-mill MSP of sugar, recovery testing, weighment, mechanised harvest deductions.
- Members include JS (Legal Metrology).
Image: Timothy A. Gonsalves, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
How to use this in Mains
If asked: What are the major issues of sugarcane pricing and payments in India? Suggest reforms. (GS-III)
Quote: “Cane farmers say their returns do not match costs, and that mills under-weigh cane or cut weight for machine-harvested crop.”
Use it: Start the body with farmers' grievances in one line; the committee's mandate then becomes your reform list.
Exam angle
Prelims: chair, terms of reference, ex-mill MSP of sugar. · Mains GS-III: cane pricing, sugar sector economics, farm incomes.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
The committee set up in October 2026 on sugarcane farmers' issues will examine which of the following?
1. Ex-mill Minimum Selling Price of sugar
2. Weighment practices at sugar mills
3. Deductions on mechanically harvested sugarcane
Select the correct answer:
Answer (d) & explanation
PIB, 14 Oct 2026: all three are in the terms of reference.
Questions students ask about this
Who heads the new sugarcane committee?
Prof. Ramesh Chand, former Member of NITI Aayog.
What will it examine?
Returns to cane farmers, the ex-mill Minimum Selling Price of sugar, sugar recovery testing, weighment at mills and deductions on mechanically harvested cane.
Why is Legal Metrology on the panel?
Because weighment and calibration at sugar mills are among the issues; the Joint Secretary (Legal Metrology) is a member.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB: Government Constitutes Committee to Examine Issues Relating to Sugarcane Farmers and the Sugar Sector, 14 Oct 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending