Karnataka hikes Nandini milk price by Rs 8 per litre; what are prices in other states?
Announcing the government’s decision at a press conference in Bengaluru following Thursday's Cabinet meeting, Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said that dairy farmers had been demanding an increase of Rs 10 per litre.
The Karnataka government on Thursday (October 29) hiked the price of Nandini milk by Rs 8 per litre. It will be effective from Sunday (November 1).
Although the increase will put an additional burden on consumers, the government has taken this significant decision to support dairy farmers facing financial difficulties.
Govt cites farmers’ crisis
Announcing the government’s decision at a press conference in Bengaluru following Thursday's Cabinet meeting, Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said that dairy farmers had been demanding an increase of Rs 10 per litre.
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“Given the crisis faced by farmers, members of all parties in the Legislative Council had called for measures to support them. Milk producers themselves had taken to the streets in protest, and the cooperatives had also pressed for an increase,” Gowda said.
He added, “Respecting these demands, the Cabinet has today decided to increase the price paid to milk-producing farmers by Rs 7 per litre. In addition, the cooperatives will receive an increase of Re 1 per litre. Thus, the total increase will be Rs 8 per litre.”
At present, farmers receive a procurement price of approximately Rs 35 per litre of milk. Including the government’s incentive of Rs 5 per litre, their total earnings amount to Rs 40 per litre. Following the implementation of the new decision, the procurement price will increase to Rs 42 per litre. If the existing incentive continues, farmers will receive a total of Rs 47 per litre, he explained.
Repeated price revisions over past 5 years
Nandini milk prices have been revised in phases since 2022. In November 2022 and July 2023, prices were increased by Rs 3 per litre on each occasion.
In June 2024, the price was increased by Rs 2, with an additional 50 ml of milk provided as part of the adjustment. By March 2025, the price and packet quantity had been revised again, with toned milk priced at Rs 47 per litre.
With the latest increase of Rs 8 per litre, the price of Nandini toned milk will rise to Rs 54 per litre.
Market competition and financial burden on consumers
Other brands in Karnataka are priced at higher levels. Amul Taaza milk is sold at Rs 60 per litre, while Dodla milk is priced at approximately Rs 56 to Rs 62 per litre. Even after the Rs 8 increase, Nandini milk is expected to remain slightly cheaper than these competing private brands.
However, the full Rs 8 per litre increase will affect household budgets and increase monthly expenditure.
For a household purchasing one litre of milk per day, the additional monthly expense will be Rs 240. Families consuming two litres daily will have to spend an extra Rs 480 per month, while households using three litres a day will face an additional expense of Rs 720.
Nandini milk still cheaper than other states
Gowda said milk was priced at around Rs 59 per litre in Delhi and Maharashtra, Rs 57 in Gujarat and Rs 64 in Telangana. Prices in Kerala were around Rs 56 per litre.
“Karnataka's milk price will be around Rs 54 per litre. Even after the revision, it will remain lower than prices in several other states and competing brands,” he said.
State-wise retail milk prices (Top 10)
Tripura: Rs 79 per litre
Nagaland: Rs 74 per litre
Telangana: Rs 67 per litre
West Bengal: Rs 63 per litre
Uttarakhand: Rs 62 per litre
Uttar Pradesh: Rs 60 per litre
Delhi, Gujarat, Meghalaya, & Arunachal Pradesh: Rs 58 per litre
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana: Rs 56 per litre
Gujarat: Rs 55 per litre
Karnataka: Rs 54 per litre