Cabinet Approves National Pulses Mission, Hikes MSP for Rabi Crops
03 October 2025, New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet has approved two major policy decisions on the eve of Dussehra: the launch of a National Pulses Mission and a significant increase in Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for rabi crops.
Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described the moves as “historic,” noting that they will strengthen food and nutrition security while ensuring higher incomes for farmers.
National Pulses Mission Targets 35 Million Tonnes by 2030-31
The new Mission aims to make India self-reliant in pulses production by boosting output from the current 24.2 million tonnes to 35 million tonnes by 2030-31.
The scheme will be implemented across 416 districts and will include expansion in rice fallow areas, improved access to breeder and certified seeds, intercropping models, irrigation facilities, technical support, and stronger market linkages.
Procurement of tur, urad, and masoor will be carried out at 100% of MSP, ensuring farmers get full returns for their harvest. The Mission carries a budgetary allocation of ₹11,440 crore for 2025-26.
MSP Hike for Rabi Crops
The Cabinet also approved revised MSPs for the 2026-27 rabi marketing season, ensuring returns up to 109% over production costs. Safflower saw the steepest rise of ₹600 per quintal, followed by lentil with a ₹300 per quintalincrease.
Minimum Support Prices for Rabi Crops (2026-27)
| Crop | MSP 2026-27 (₹/quintal) | MSP 2025-26 (₹/quintal) | Increase (₹) | Cost of Production (₹/qtl) | Margin Over Cost (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | 2,585 | 2,425 | 160 | 1,239 | 109% |
| Barley | 2,150 | 1,980 | 170 | 1,361 | 58% |
| Gram (Chana) | 5,875 | 5,650 | 225 | 3,699 | 59% |
| Lentil (Masoor) | 7,000 | 6,700 | 300 | 3,705 | 89% |
| Rapeseed & Mustard | 6,200 | 5,950 | 250 | 3,210 | 93% |
| Safflower (Kusum) | 6,540 | 5,940 | 600 | 4,360 | 50% |
Chouhan emphasized that these increases follow the 2018-19 Union Budget commitment to fix MSP at 1.5 times the weighted average cost of production.
The Agriculture Minister noted that MSPs under the Modi government have seen historic gains since 2014-15. Wheat has nearly doubled from ₹1,400 to ₹2,585 per quintal, lentil has risen from ₹2,950 to ₹7,000, while safflower increased from ₹3,000 to ₹6,540.
Also Read: UPL Raises Mancozeb Prices in China Again Amid Supply and Cost Pressures
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