The Ministry of Textiles (MoT), on January 19, 2026, issued an order in public interest partially modifying its earlier order dated December 18, 2025, to regulate and rationalise stock limits of raw jute under the Jute and Jute Textiles Control Order, 2016. The order prescribes category-wise maximum quantities of raw jute that may be held at any point of time, ranging from 1200 quintals for registered balers with baling presses, 25 quintals for other registered stockists, 5 quintals for unregistered stockists, and 45 days’ consumption for jute mills based on current production levels.
The order further mandates that any excess stock must be sold within 10 days from the date of the order, with physical delivery completed by February 10, 2026, and a compliance report with supporting documents to be submitted to the Office of the Jute Commissioner. Until stock levels fall within prescribed limits, purchase of fresh raw jute is prohibited. All stockholders are required to declare and update their holdings fortnightly on the Jute SMART portal, and stocks lying in a single premise—irrespective of ownership—will be treated as one consolidated stock. Stocks under sale contracts will continue to be treated as held by the seller until actual delivery.
Non-compliance with the order attracts penal action, including imprisonment and fine, under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Enforcement authorities are empowered to inspect premises, examine records, and seize stock in case of violations. Certain exemptions are provided: imported raw jute is excluded from stock calculations; jute mills may seek case-specific relaxation for export or private sale commitments; and the Jute Corporation of India Ltd. (JCI) is exempt, though stock sold by JCI to mills will be counted toward mill limits. The order is effective immediately and remains valid until further orders.
[Notification No. S.O. 310(E)]
