It was in this backdrop that the Essential Commodities Act of 1955 came into being. It wasn’t just a law; it was a lifeline. It made sure essential goods foodgrains, oils, coal, steel, medicines reached people who needed them. And it also stood guard against those who tried to profit from scarcity. Traders back then would hoard sacks of grain or pulses in godowns, creating artificial shortages, only to release them later at inflated prices. The Act gave the government power to step in, set stock limits, raid warehouses, and keep markets fair. But India didn’t stay the same. The Green Revolution changed our fields, liberalisation opened up our markets, and slowly the empty shelves disappeared. By the 1990s, food was abundant, imports were easier, and rationing was targeted mainly at the poor. Yet, the problem of hoarding never quite vanished. Even today, we hear of onion or pulse prices suddenly shooting up because traders decided to hold back supplies. And here’s where the story gets complicated. Between 2009 and 2014, over a million raids were carried out under this Act. But barely a fraction led to convictions just 0.12 per cent. That number tells its own tale: sometimes the law was used too broadly, even unfairly. Now, in a surplus-driven economy, the question is should exporters, processors, and retailers still be bound by a law made for an age of scarcity? Or do we need to modernise it, keeping its spirit alive but making it fit for today’s realities? Because the truth is, the Essential Commodities Act is still needed. Hoarding and black marketing haven’t disappeared. But to stay relevant, the law has to evolve. From shortages to surplus, its journey mirrors India’s own. And just like the country, it must learn to adapt, without forgetting why it was created in the first place.