The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the minimum support price (MSP) for rabi crops, including wheat, chana and mustard, announced Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
“Like for Kharif crops, there is a significant increase in the MSP for rabi crops,” Vaishnaw said in a media briefing after the Cabinet meeting.
The MSP for wheat increased by Rs 150 per quintal, from Rs 2,275 to Rs 2,425. The MSP for mustard is increased by Rs 300 to Rs 5,950, and chana by Rs 210 to Rs 5,650.
Like wise, MSP on barley, masoor, safflower has also been increased to Rs 1,980, Rs 6,700, and Rs 5,940 apiece, respectively.
MSP, or Minimum Support Price, is a government-set price at which it buys certain agricultural products from farmers. It’s meant to ensure that farmers get a fair price for their crops, even if market prices are low, helping protect them from financial loss.
Vaishnaw highlighted that the new wheat MSP is 105 per cent higher than the cost of production, calling it “a big thing.” The government also raised the MSP for rapeseed and mustard seed by Rs 300 to Rs 5,950 per quintal, aiming to boost domestic oilseed production and reduce edible oil imports.
The support price for safflower increased by Rs 140 to Rs 5,940 per quintal for 2025-26 from Rs 5,800 per quintal in the previous season.
In the case of pulses, the support price for lentil (masur) increased by Rs 275 to Rs 6,700 per quintal, while that for gram MSP raised by Rs 210 to Rs 5,650 per quintal for 2025-26.
The support price for barley increased by Rs 130 to Rs 1,980 per quintal for 2025-26 from Rs 1,850 per quintal in the previous season.
The announcement comes as states like Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Delhi prepare for elections.
However, Vaishnaw dismissed any connection between the MSP hikes and the upcoming polls, stating that such announcements typically occur around this time.
The minister asserted that farmers have a “good feeling” towards the government, citing transformative changes in their lives.
The MSP increases align with the 2018-19 Union Budget commitment to set support prices at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production.
The government expects these hikes to ensure remunerative prices for farmers and encourage crop diversification.
