New Delhi, Oct. 2 -- The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved minimum support prices (MSPs) for a slew of rabi or winter-sown crops, raising them by 4-10% for the 2026-27 season to offer remunerative returns to farmers. The Cabinet raised the MSP for wheat, the main winter staple, by 6.6% to Rs.2,585 a quintal. The increase in the MSPs is in line with the practice of fixing the rates at a level of at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production, first announced in the Union Budget 2018-19. The Cabinet also stuck to a trend of clearing higher rates for oilseeds and pulses compared to other commodities because they are scarce. In absolute terms, the highest increase has been given to safflower, up Rs.600 a quintal to Rs 6,540, followed by lentil (masoor) at Rs.7,000 a quintal, an increase of Rs.300. MSPs are federally fixed floor rates at which the government buys farm produce to help avoid distress sales. They are hiked twice a year, for summer and winter crops. The MSP for rapeseed and mustard has been raised by Rs.250 to Rs.6,200, while the rate for gram (chana) was hiked by Rs.225 to Rs.5,875. The margin over cost of cultivation has been estimated at 109% for wheat, 89% for lentil, 93% for mustard, 58% for barley, 50% for safflower and 59% for gram. Union agriculture minister hailed the cabinet decisions. "The Union Cabinet took two historic decisions on Wednesday on the eve of Dussehra during the auspicious Navratri festival by approving the National Pulses Mission, and simultaneously increased the MSP (minimum support price) for rabi crops," Chouhan told reporters....