The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all mandated Rabi crops for the 2025-26 marketing season. The decision aims to provide better returns to farmers and encourage sustainable agricultural practices.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Modi on X, who stated, "We are constantly making bold decisions for the welfare of our farmer brothers and sisters. Today, the government has increased the MSP for Rabi crops, including wheat and gram, ensuring our food providers a better and more secure livelihood."

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the new MSP rates, which see rapeseed and mustard experiencing the most significant increase at ₹300 per quintal. Lentil (Masur) saw an increase of ₹275 per quintal, while gram, wheat, safflower, and barley rose by ₹210, ₹150, ₹140, and ₹130 per quintal, respectively.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, emphasized the government's commitment to supporting farmers by easing their cost burdens. He emphasized that the increased MSPs fulfill the 2018-19 Union Budget promise of fixing MSPs at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production.

The new MSP structure will offer farmers substantial margins, ranging from 60 percent for gram and barley to 105 percent for wheat. This revision is expected to encourage crop diversification and stabilize farmers' incomes, mitigating the risks associated with fluctuating market prices and unpredictable weather conditions.

The government believes this move will contribute to food security and promote crop diversification, ultimately benefiting both farmers and consumers.