Guwahati: Tea Board India is pushing for a more transparent and cost-efficient tea auction system, with a next-generation online platform and a proposed reduction in transaction charges from 12 paise to 7.5 paise per kg of tea sold.

The reforms were discussed at a seminar on pan-India e-auction reforms held on October 5 at the CTTA Auction Hall, Nilhat House, Kolkata, under the Union government’s ‘Reform Utsav’ initiative.

The seminar brought together industry representatives, including Tea Board India Deputy Chairman C. Murugan and Sreelata Jonnalagedda of IIM Bangalore.

Introduced in 2016, the pan-India e-auction system allows buyers registered at one auction centre to participate in sales at other centres through a common electronic platform.

An integrated online settlement mechanism, introduced in 2018, further improved financial transparency, streamlined payments and reduced manual intervention.

The system has expanded buyer participation and auction volumes. The number of buyers participating across centres rose from 1,702 in 2015–16 to 2,417 in 2025–26, while the volume of tea sold through auctions increased from 518.08 million kg to 643.89 million kg over the same period.

Auction prices also serve as important benchmarks for determining the green leaf prices paid to small tea growers, making an efficient and transparent system crucial to the industry.

The proposed web-based platform is designed to improve accessibility, simplify transactions and lower operating costs. It has been rolled out in Kolkata, Coonoor and Dibrugarh, with implementation at other auction centres planned in phases.

The seminar also reviewed the recommendations of the Auction Reforms Committee, which includes representatives of major tea industry associations.

Its phased roadmap covers revised sampling norms, standardisation of auction lots, the introduction of ex-estate sales and shorter auction lead times.

Wider pan-India participation, warehousing reforms, grade standardisation and an integrated transaction platform are also on the agenda.

The deliberations called for continued coordination between the Tea Board and industry stakeholders to improve price discovery, widen market access and strengthen the competitiveness of India’s tea trade.