In a bid to control the escalating sugar prices across India, the government has imposed stricter regulations on imported raw sugar. Importers are now required to convert the imported raw sugar into white or refined sugar and sell it in the domestic market within two months of importing, as opposed to a previous timeline of selling by October 31. This new rule applies to raw sugar imported under the 10-lakh-tonne tariff rate quota (TRQ). The government aims to prevent importers from holding on to raw or refined sugar in anticipation of further price rises and ensure quicker availability in the domestic market. The surge in sugar prices is attributed to crop damage due to pests, excess rain, festive demand, and speculative buying. Separately, the government has allowed imports of 10 lakh tonnes of sugar by October 36 and imposed stock-holding limits on traders and bulk consumers such as soft-drink and ice-cream makers. States have been asked to take action against hoarding and black marketing. The average all-India retail price of sugar currently stands at Rs 63.05 per kg, up 29% from a month earlier. Despite the surge in prices, the Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) maintains that there is no shortage of sugar in the country, with net production estimated at around 279 lakh tonnes for the 2025-26 marketing year. The government's ethanol-blending policy has been blamed by opposition parties for the rise in sugar prices, but the government has rejected this claim. Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra stated that diversification towards ethanol has improved the financial health of the sugar sector and helped ensure timely payments to farmers. The latest import rule change tightens the conditions governing the 10-lakh-tonne raw sugar TRQ, as the government seeks to improve domestic availability and bring down prices ahead of the festive season.