To tackle inflation before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Centre has prohibited the export of onions until March 2024. The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification on Thursday amending the export policy of onions from ‘Free’ to Prohibited. The ban will be effective from Friday, with exceptions for onions already in the export process under certain conditions. The notification states that onions can still be exported if they meet one of three conditions outlined. Additionally, the government may grant permission for onion exports to other countries upon their request. The average daily price of onions in India was reported at Rs 57.11 per kg on Thursday, a 97.95% increase from the previous year. The government has also instructed sugar mills and distilleries to halt the use of sugar cane juice or syrup for ethanol production during the ethanol supply year 2023-24. Previously, the export of wheat and non-basmati white rice had been banned.