Cabinet hikes MSP for rabi crops, DA 3%

Approval also given for construction of a new rail-road bridge on river Ganga in Varanasi with an outlay of ₹2,642 cr

- MUKESH RANJAN

IN a pre-Diwali bonanza to farmers and Central government employees and pensioners, the government on Wednesday approved increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for key rabi crops for the 2025-26 marketing season and hiked the Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) by 3 per cent with a financial implication of ₹9,448 crore.

In another decision, the Union Cabinet also gave its approval for constructing a new rail-road bridge on the river Ganga in Varanasi with an outlay of ₹2,642 crore.

Briefing the media after the meeting of the Union Cabinet, which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the new MSP rates aim to ensure farmers receive a fair value for their harvests.

Vaishnaw said the MSP for wheat was raised by ₹150 per quintal, moving from ₹2,275 to ₹2,425. Mustard saw an increase of ₹300 per quintal, bringing its MSP to ₹5,950 from ₹5,650, while the MSP for gram rose by ₹210 to ₹5,650 per quintal from ₹5,440.