♦ The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved an increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops for the 2025–26 marketing season on 28 May 2025.

♦ Among the crops that saw the highest MSP hike, nigerseed received the biggest absolute increase of Rs.820 per quintal, followed by ragi at Rs.596 per quintal, cotton at Rs.589 per quintal, and sesamum at Rs.579 per quintal.

♦ For paddy, the staple crop, the MSP has been raised by Rs.69 per quintal.

♦ In the pulses category, the MSP of tur (arhar) has been raised by Rs.450, moong by Rs.86, and urad by Rs.400 per quintal. Among oilseeds, the support prices for groundnut, sunflower seed, and soybean have been increased by Rs.480, Rs.441, and Rs.436 respectively. 

♦ The MSP payout to paddy farmers surged to Rs.14.16 lakh crore in the last decade, as compared to Rs.4.44 lakh crore during 2004-05 to 2013-14.

♦ Similarly, the total MSP amount paid for all 14 Kharif crops was Rs.16.35 lakh crore, a sharp rise from Rs.4.75 lakh crore during the earlier period.

♦ India follows a three-season cropping calendar: Kharif crops, which are monsoon-dependent, are sown in June-July and harvested in October-November; Rabi crops are sown post-monsoon in October-November and harvested from January onwards; and summer crops are grown between the Rabi and Kharif seasons.