India has lifted its four-year ban on wheat exports with immediate effect, citing record production, ample stocks and low domestic prices that have hurt farmers. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade, under the Commerce Ministry, changed wheat’s export status from prohibited to free on Monday. The decision also removes restrictions on exports of durum wheat, wheat flour, maida, semolina and whole-wheat flour.

India, the world’s second-largest wheat producer, imposed broad export restrictions in May 2022 to control domestic wheat prices and safeguard food security. Earlier this year, the government had eased the restrictions through licences for 5 million tonnes of wheat and 1 million tonnes of wheat products. Of the permitted 6 million tonnes, only 250,000 tonnes had been exported, and the new decision effectively ends the quota-based system.

Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said the move is intended to secure better prices for farmers. India produced a record 120.65 million tonnes of wheat in the 2025-26 agricultural year, up about 2.69 million tonnes from 117.94 million tonnes a year earlier. The government said stocks remain sufficient to meet domestic demand.