In response to damage caused by untimely rains, the Indian government has relaxed wheat procurement norms for Punjab during the rabi marketing season 2026-27. Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, announced that the limit of lustre loss in wheat has been increased to 70%, and the limit for shrivelled and broken grains has been raised to 15%, compared to the previous 6%. These relaxations are intended to alleviate hardships faced by farmers and prevent distress sales of wheat. The changes will take effect from the start of the procurement season. Punjab's Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister, Lal Chand Kataruchak, emphasized the importance of ensuring timely payments, which are to be credited to farmers' accounts within 48 hours of procurement. However, opposition parties, including the Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress, criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for not securing these relaxations sooner, arguing that farmers have already suffered crop losses due to adverse weather conditions.