The Union Cabinet has approved new minimum support prices (MSP) for all six rabi crops for the 2027-28 marketing season. Wheat gets a hike of just ₹25 a quintal, one of its smallest increases in years, while safflower, mustard and lentil get much bigger raises. With wheat sowing now under way across North India, here is the full list and what it means for farmers.
Rabi MSP 2027-28: full list
- Wheat: ₹2,610 per quintal (up ₹25 from ₹2,585)
- Barley: ₹2,286 (up ₹136 from ₹2,150)
- Gram (chana): ₹5,958 (up ₹83 from ₹5,875)
- Masoor (lentil): ₹7,390 (up ₹390 from ₹7,000)
- Rapeseed and mustard: ₹6,613 (up ₹413 from ₹6,200)
- Safflower: ₹7,215 (up ₹675 from ₹6,540)
Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on September 30, 2026, as reported by All India Radio News, PTI and Outlook. Figures in ₹ per quintal.
Margin over cost of production
The government says every rabi MSP is at least 1.5 times the projected all-India cost of production. Based on reported figures, the margins are:
- Wheat: 106% over a cost of ₹1,264
- Rapeseed and mustard: 96% over ₹3,367
- Masoor: 92% over ₹3,854
- Gram: 59% over ₹3,751
- Barley: 58% over ₹1,447
- Safflower: 50% over ₹4,810
Why the wheat hike is so small
Reports linked the ₹25 increase to large government wheat stocks and the already high margin over cost. Farmer groups have argued that input costs such as diesel, fertiliser and labour have risen faster than that. The bigger raises for oilseeds and pulses are in line with the government’s push to cut India’s dependence on imported edible oil and pulses.
Briefing the media, Information and Broadcasting Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw said the decision aims to ensure remunerative prices for farmers. The government has estimated a total payout of about ₹90,962 crore for an expected procurement of around 324 lakh tonnes.
What MSP means in practice
MSP is the price at which government agencies such as the Food Corporation of India buy crops from farmers. It acts as a floor price, but it helps only where procurement actually happens. Wheat procurement is strong in Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, while procurement of pulses and oilseeds at MSP is far more limited. Wheat bought under the 2027-28 season will be harvested and sold from around April 2027.
For other government decisions this month, see our explainer on the ₹10,000 crore SME growth fund.
Quick answers
What is the wheat MSP for 2027-28? ₹2,610 per quintal.
Which crop got the highest hike? Safflower, up ₹675 per quintal.
When does procurement start? The rabi marketing season usually begins in April, after harvest.
Questions to think about
- Is a ₹25 hike in wheat MSP fair given rising farm input costs?
- Will higher MSPs for oilseeds and pulses change what farmers choose to sow?
- Should MSP procurement be widened beyond a few states and crops?
Sources: All India Radio News (October 1, 2026), PTI, UNI and Outlook reports on the CCEA decision of September 30, 2026.
