New Delhi, April 23 -- The government's decision to reopen wheat exports in February after nearly four years-and then scaling up the quota from 2.5 million tonnes to 5 million-comes as India sits on a comfortable surplus. The move aims to ease excess supply and support farm prices without hurting food security. But how do exports lift farmer incomes, and can this be done without stoking inflation? Mint explains.

Because there is more wheat in the system than the country currently needs. Data from the ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution shows wheat stocks were at a record 21.79 million tonnes as on 1 April 2026, compared to just 8.05 million tonnes in the same month in 2017. Moreover, the 2025-26 harvest is seen at ...