Punjab Wheat Prices Exceed MSP, Centre Rejects Below-MSP Claims

The Centre has rejected claims that wheat prices in Punjab were below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) during the 2026 procurement season.

In response to a question raised by Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya stated that the average mandi price of wheat in Punjab stood at ₹2,597 per quintal in May 2026, exceeding the notified MSP of ₹2,585 per quintal.

The government also reported that the average mandi price of paddy in Punjab during 2025 was ₹2,389 per quintal, which was above the MSP. However, wheat procurement during the first fortnight of April 2026 did decline by around 23% compared to the same period last year, with 2.47 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) procured.

The Centre attributed the slower procurement to quality issues caused by unseasonal rainfall and noted that specifications for wheat procurement were relaxed on April 17 to facilitate timely procurement of rain-affected wheat and reduce hardship for farmers.