The amendments in the Essential Commodities Act 2020 ?

Please go through the amendments allowed under the Essential Commodities Act 2020 as below:

In section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, after sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:— 

‘(1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1),— (a) the supply of such foodstuffs, including cereals, pulses, potato, onions, edible oilseeds and oils, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, may be regulated only under extraordinary circumstances which may include war, famine, extraordinary price rise and natural calamity of grave nature;

(b) any action on imposing stock limit shall be based on price rise and an order for regulating stock limit of any agricultural produce may be issued under this Act only if there is— (i) hundred percent increase in the retail price of horticultural produce; or (ii) fifty percent increase in the retail price of non-perishable agricultural foodstuffs, over the price prevailing immediately preceding twelve months, or average retail price of the last five years, whichever is lower.

What does it mean?

(i) hundred percent increase in the retail price of horticultural produce?

(ii) fifty percent increase in the retail price of non-perishable agricultural foodstuffs?

What will be its impact on the prices of Foodstuff in India, be it Perishable or Non-Perishable?

Does it mean: For Example, if the Potato price last year was Rs. 20/- kg, it can be hiked up to Rs. 39/- per kg this year? It can be Rs 77/- per kg in the 2nd year? It can be Rs. 153/- per kg in the 3rd year? It can be Rs 305/- per kg in the 4th year & so on?

Must be given serious thought over the impact on the Prices of foodstuffs, including cereals, pulses, potato, onions, edible oilseeds and oils, as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.