The Essential Commodities act lists seven broad categories of items as essential commodities. Data shared by the government indicates that the value of exports of these commodities from India has increased continuously between 2015-16 & 2018-19. However, there has been a decline since then. The value of exports in the first ten months of 2020-21 is 27% less than the exports during the same period in 2019-20. The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 was enacted for controlling the production, supply, and distribution of, and trade and commerce of certain commodities which are considered basic needs for survival and pricing of which can have a major impact on the general public. The law currently being administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs prohibits hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities. In case the Central Government is of the opinion that the price of a certain commodity (inflation) is increasing due to short supply, it has the power to direct the state governments to fix the stock-holding limit of the commodity for a fixed period. Section 3 of the Act states that ‘if the Central Government is of opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do for maintaining or increasing supplies of any essential commodity or for securing their equitable distribution and availability at fair prices, it may, by order, provide for regulating or prohibiting the production, supply and distribution thereof and trade and commerce therein.’ Seven commodities listed as Essential Commodities in the act The Act defines an essential commodity as that which is specified in the Schedule. The commodities specified in the Schedule are drugs (medicines used for diagnosis, treatment, mitigation, or prevention of any disease or disorder in human beings or animals, as defined under Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940), fertilizers, foodstuffs such as potato, onions, cereals, edible oilseeds and oils, hank yarn made wholly from cotton, petroleum and petroleum products, raw jute, jute textiles, and seeds of food-crops and seeds of fruits and vegetables. Face masks and sanitizers were included in the list of essential commodities in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, to enhance their production, avoid over-pricing, and make them more accessible. It was later removed from the list once the purpose was served. India exports 18 items which fall under the ‘essential commodities’ list India has been a major exporter of petroleum products, drug formulations, jewellery, and diamonds. Besides these, India also exports agricultural products. The USA, UAE, and China are the top importers of such Indian products. Commodities classified as ‘essential’ in India and are exported are jute and jute products, fruits and vegetables, cereals, pulses, food grains, petroleum, and cotton yarns. Altogether, 18 products under ‘essential commodities’ are exported by India. COVID-19 & other factors resulted in reduction of these exports Multiple factors, both global and domestic, influence the export of essential commodities. Some of these are demand and supply in domestic and international markets, currency fluctuations, policy interventions, weather conditions, and international prices. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic induced trade restrictions in movement and lockdown have disrupted the exports of essential commodities also. As per the data shared by the government in the Lok Sabha, the value of exports of essential commodities has grown continuously from 2015-16 until 2018-19. The exports were worth the US $45.7 Billion in 2015-16, which crossed $54 Billion in 2017-18, and was the highest in 2018-19 with exports worth $64.4 Billion. However, the value of exports dropped to $56.3 Billion in 2019-20, on account of multiple factors. COVID-19 began taking a starting in the last quarter of 2019-20. As cases increased rapidly, many countries started imposing strict lockdowns. Global supply chains were disrupted due to the restrictions on international transport. By April 2020, (beginning of 2020-21), over 100 countries had introduced major or partial lockdown. A WTO note of April 2020 notes that 80 countries had introduced export prohibitions or restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. All these factors meant that the downward trend in exports observed in 2019-20 continued and worsened in 2020-21. In 2020-21, data is available for the ten months from April 2020 to January 2021. As per data shared in the Lok Sabha, the value of exports of these essential commodities was only $34.8 Billion. Compared to the same period in 2019-20, the value of exports is down almost 27%. If the trend continues, the overall fall could be in excess of 30% by the end of 2020-21.