Wheat MSP Rate History (2014–2026): A Deep Dive into India’s Rising Support Prices

New Delhi. Tuesday, 21 April 2026

Wheat remains the cornerstone of India’s food security and a primary income driver for millions of farmers, especially across the Indo-Gangetic plains. Every year, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) revises the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to ensure farmers receive a fair return on their investment despite market volatility.

From 2014 to 2026, the trajectory of wheat MSP has been one of consistent growth, reflecting the government’s strategy to align agriculture with rising living costs and inflation.

Latest Update: Wheat MSP for 2026-27 Marketing Season

As of April 2026, the Government of India has officially implemented the MSP of ₹2,585 per quintal for the 2026-27 Rabi Marketing Season (RMS). This follows the Cabinet’s announcement in October 2025, which approved a ₹160 per quintal hike—the highest absolute annual increase in recent history.

• Effective Date: April 1, 2026

• Target Production: 119 million tonnes for the 2025-26 crop year.

• Margin over Cost: The new price provides a 109% margin over the estimated all-India weighted average cost of production (A2+FL).

Wheat MSP Rate History: 12-Year Performance (2014–2026)

The table below provides a comprehensive look at how the support price has evolved, showing a total increase of ₹1,135 per quintal since the 2014-15 season.

State-Level Variations: The “Bonus” Factor

While the Central Government sets the base MSP, several states provide additional incentives:

• Madhya Pradesh (2026-27): The state government has announced an additional ₹40 per quintal bonus, effectively bringing the purchase price for MP farmers to ₹2,625 per quintal.

• Uttar Pradesh: The UP Cabinet, led by CM Yogi Adityanath, approved a robust procurement policy for 2026, setting up 6,500 purchase centers across 75 districts to ensure every farmer gets the MSP of ₹2,585 directly into their bank accounts.

Why the Continued Hike?

The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) considers three primary cost factors when recommending MSP:

1. A2: Actual paid-out costs (seeds, fertilizer, labor, fuel).

2. FL: Imputed value of unpaid family labor.

3. C2: Comprehensive cost including rental value of land and interest on fixed capital.

Since 2018-19, the government has mandated that MSP must be at least 1.5 times the $A2+FL$ cost. For the current 2026-27 season, while the $A2+FL$ cost was estimated at ₹1,239, the MSP of ₹2,585 far exceeds the 50% profit margin goal, reaching a record 109% profit margin.

Relevant Links & Further Reading

For the latest grassroots reports and agricultural news in English, visit:

• Read Full Rules for MSP & Subsidies
• Wheat vs. Mustard Price Divergence in Mandis
• Rabi Marketing Season 2025–26: Wheat and Mustard Divergent Trends

Disclaimer

The Minimum Support Price (MSP) and procurement targets are subject to official notifications by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). Any figures mentioned for the 2026-27 marketing season are based on current government releases and are subject to change.