New Delhi, Jan. 31 -- India's food grain procurement system, long centred on rice and wheat, has expanded far beyond its original food-security mandate, creating a costly surplus even as the country remains heavily dependent on imports of edible oils and pulses.

Successive governments have relied on public procurement to stabilize prices, support farmer incomes and ensure reliable supplies for the public distribution system (PDS). But in recent years, large-scale procurement, especially of rice and wheat, has outpaced underlying food security needs, resulting in chronically high buffer stocks and rising carrying costs.

At the same time, India remains structurally dependent on imports of edible oils, pulses and some feedstocks.

The Econ...