India Raises Minimum Support Prices for Six Rabi Crops

The Union Cabinet of India approved increased Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for six major Rabi crops for the 2027-28 marketing season on September 30, 2026. Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs set the revised rates for wheat, barley, gram, lentil, rapeseed-mustard, and safflower, with an estimated total payout of ₹90,962 crore.

Safflower received the highest absolute increase at ₹675 per quintal, followed by rapeseed and mustard at ₹413 and lentil at ₹390. Barley and gram saw increases of ₹136 and ₹83 respectively, while wheat received the smallest increase of ₹25 per quintal, bringing its MSP to ₹2,610.

The government is using higher prices for pulses and oilseeds to incentivize farmers to diversify away from cereals and reduce reliance on imports. These rates align with a 2018-19 Union Budget policy to maintain MSPs at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production. Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices considers all factors to prevent inflation while adhering to the cost-plus-50% principle.