PrepMaticCurrent affairs · September 2026
Cabinet approves MSP for rabi crops for marketing season 2027-28
On this page
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all six mandated rabi crops for the marketing season 2027-28 on 30 September 2026. The highest absolute increase is for safflower (₹675 a quintal), followed by rapeseed and mustard (₹413).
MSP table (₹ per quintal)
| Crop | MSP 2027-28 | MSP 2026-27 | Increase | Expected margin over cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | 2,610 | 2,585 | 25 | 106% |
| Barley | 2,286 | 2,150 | 136 | 58% |
| Gram | 5,958 | 5,875 | 83 | 59% |
| Lentil (masur) | 7,390 | 7,000 | 390 | 92% |
| Rapeseed and mustard | 6,613 | 6,200 | 413 | 96% |
| Safflower | 7,215 | 6,540 | 675 | 50% |
The principle behind the numbers
The increase follows the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement that MSP should be at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production. The cost used includes all paid-out costs, such as hired labour, rent for leased land, inputs, irrigation, depreciation and interest on working capital, plus the imputed value of family labour. The government says higher MSP for pulses and oilseeds encourages crop diversification away from cereals.
The release also notes that wheat procurement from 2014-15 to 2025-26 reached 3,715 lakh metric tonnes, against 2,254 lakh metric tonnes in 2004-05 to 2013-14.
Why it matters for exams
MSP figures, the crops covered and the 1.5 times cost principle are regular economy and agriculture questions in TNPSC general studies, and appear in the general awareness section of banking exams. Pair this with the Indian economy guide, and note that the MSP is fixed for a marketing season (here 2027-28), not for a calendar year.
Practice questions
Question 1
What is the MSP of wheat for the 2027-28 rabi marketing season?
- A. ₹2,585 per quintal
- B. ₹2,610 per quintal
- C. ₹2,286 per quintal
- D. ₹7,215 per quintal
Question 2
Which rabi crop received the highest absolute increase in MSP for 2027-28?
- A. Wheat
- B. Gram
- C. Lentil
- D. Safflower
Answers
- B. Wheat MSP rises by ₹25 to ₹2,610; ₹2,585 was the 2026-27 price.
- D. Safflower's MSP rises by ₹675 a quintal, the largest absolute increase.
Source
Find your weak TNPSC units before the exam does
Take a free TNPSC assessment on PrepMatic. It shows where you stand across General Tamil, General Studies and Aptitude, then builds a day-by-day study plan and mock tests focused on your weak subjects.
Start free assessment →Free forever plan · No credit card · 2-minute setupRelated
- Edible oil import duty cutThe government cut basic customs duty on crude sunflower oil to nil and on crude soybean and palm oil to 5% on 24 September 2026 to ease prices.
- EPFO wage ceiling 2026The Union Cabinet raised the EPFO wage ceiling from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 a month on 16 September 2026, bringing over 51 lakh more workers into coverage.
More in September 2026
- Green Energy Corridor Phase-IIIThe Cabinet approved Green Energy Corridor Phase-III on 30 September 2026 to evacuate up to 135 GW of renewable power and add 50 GWh of battery storage.
- Asian Games, TN medallistsTamil Nadu players won medals in cricket, shooting, squash, badminton and athletics at the 20th Asian Games. Who won what, and the cash awards announced.
- Paranur barrierless tollingNHAI began barrierless Multi-Lane Free Flow tolling at Paranur on NH-179B on 1 October 2026, the first in Tamil Nadu. How the system works.
- Vithya Ramraj, Asian GamesTamil Nadu's Vithya Ramraj won relay gold, relay silver and 400 m hurdles bronze at the 20th Asian Games, breaking P.T. Usha's 1984 national record.
- Diploma/ITI hall ticket 2026TNPSC released hall tickets on 2 October 2026 for the Diploma/ITI-level Combined Technical Services exam, held in CBT and OMR sessions from 11 October.
- WorldSkills Shanghai 2026Tamil Nadu sent its largest team of 12 to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 and won its first silver plus four Medals for Excellence. India finished 10th.
- First free-space QKD linkQNu Labs, BISAG-N and IIT Gandhinagar demonstrated India's first free-space quantum key distribution link of 5.56 km on 27-28 September 2026.
- IIP, August 2026India's Index of Industrial Production grew 8.0% in August 2026, with manufacturing up 9.0% and electricity up 12.3%. Quick estimates released 28 September.