Shares of Andrew Yule & Company rose nearly 20 percent during intra-day trade on Monday after the Centre asked all ministries and departments to serve 'Yule Tea' at official meetings, conferences, canteens and government functions. According to reports from Moneycontrol.com, the stock climbed 19.65 percent to an intra-day high of ₹30.50 per share on the BSE. It later pared some gains and was trading at ₹28.11, up 10.28 percent, at around 1 pm as investors booked profits at higher levels. The stock has been gaining over the last two trading sessions.
The rally followed a communication from the Ministry of Heavy Industries urging all central ministries and departments to promote the use of Yule Tea, the tea brand owned by Andrew Yule & Company Ltd (AYCL). As reported by CNN-News18, the ministry has written to other ministries and departments asking them to serve Yule Tea, produced by state-owned Andrew Yule & Company Limited (AYCL), at official gatherings. The ministry has asked other ministries to encourage organisations under their control to use Yule Tea during official functions to give the PSU brand a much-needed institutional boost. The ministry stated that AYCL, a Central Public Sector Enterprise under its administrative control, owns and operates tea estates in Assam and West Bengal and is among the country's oldest tea producers. The company manufactures Darjeeling, Dooars and Assam teas in orthodox, CTC, green tea and flavoured variants under the 'Yule Tea' brand.
According to the ministry, AYCL supplies tea to Parliament through the Tea Board, while its products are available online. The ministry noted that the company's products have been well received by customers. However, it added that AYCL is facing financial stress due to various reasons. The ministry also said the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry had recommended coordinating with ministries and departments for wider promotion and adoption of Yule Tea. The company functions under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and owns and operates 15 tea estates across Assam and West Bengal.
The ministry emphasized that greater institutional support and wider use of the company's products would provide significant encouragement to its ongoing efforts towards operational and financial stability. This government initiative represents a strategic move to support a state-run enterprise in the tea sector through increased institutional adoption of its products across government functions. The ministry highlighted that supporting the brand would not merely help a struggling public sector enterprise but would also strengthen employment in tea-growing regions, particularly among SC/ST communities and women in remote areas of Assam and West Bengal. The move follows recommendations made by the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, which urged the government to coordinate with ministries for wider promotion and adoption of the PSU's tea products.
The initiative has gained additional political momentum with Prime Minister Modi weighing in on the importance of tea during his recent 'Mann Ki Baat' address. In the 136th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat', PM Modi emphasized that tea embodies a sense of togetherness in India, becoming integral to every occasion whether it's the start of the day, meetings with friends, or spending quality time with family. The Prime Minister noted his own bond with tea, stating that tea is not merely a beverage but represents a cultural bond in India. The familiar office question of 'Chai kiski hai?' may finally have an official answer: 'Sarkari hai,' with the government asking fellow departments to 'drink government tea to support a government company' as part of the Centre's 'Atmanirbhar Chai' initiative. Though it is still just a proposal, the news has already sparked jokes in bureaucratic circles, with the potential answer to 'Chai kiski hai?' at government meetings being 'Sarkari hai' if implemented.
