Karnataka Raises Nandini Milk Prices by ₹8 per Litre
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Karnataka raised retail prices for its Nandini milk brand by ₹8 per litre on Thursday, with the revised rates taking effect from November 1.
The price revision transfers ₹7 per litre directly to dairy farmers, while milk cooperative unions take the remaining ₹1 per litre to absorb operating costs.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar defended the decision by the state cabinet, which approved the adjustment after requests from dairy farmers and the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF).
Breakdown Across Product Variants
The standard Nandini Shubham pack containing 4.5% fat rises to ₹60 per litre from ₹52. Even at the adjusted level, government pricing data places Shubham below the ₹62.80 average recorded across 10 other states included in the comparison.
Toned milk now costs ₹54 per litre, up from ₹46. Homogenised toned milk increases from ₹47 to ₹55, while homogenised cow’s milk shifts from ₹50 to ₹58. Nandini Samruddhi, meanwhile, moves to ₹63 per litre from its earlier price of ₹55.
The price revision applies to all Nandini milk varieties, including toned, homogenised and premium options across the state.
How Karnataka Compares Nationally
Even after the increase, Karnataka’s Nandini Shubham milk will remain cheaper than comparable 4.5% fat milk varieties in most states covered by the comparison. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh sell equivalent dairy grades at ₹68 per litre, leaving Karnataka ₹8 cheaper per litre after the adjustment.
“Even after the increase, Karnataka’s Nandini Shubham milk will remain cheaper than comparable 4.5% fat milk varieties in most states covered by the comparison.”
Punjab, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh retail similar packs at ₹66 per litre, while Gujarat and Rajasthan charge ₹64. At ₹60 per litre, Nandini Shubham matches the prices charged by Bihar’s Sudha milk and Goa Cooperative milk. Tamil Nadu’s state-backed Aavin 4.5% milk lists lower at ₹46 per litre, though prices in that state vary by variant and cooperative union.
Supply Chain Cost Pressures
Shivakumar noted that milk prices in Karnataka remained lower than in several neighbouring states, adding that the price gap had contributed to milk being diverted to other states. Raising local prices helps prevent dairy farmers from incurring losses amid rising production and transportation costs.
“The price has been increased to prevent losses to farmers. The government is helping farmers, and farmers are important to us,” Shivakumar told reporters, as per PTI.
“If there are farmers, we can drink milk. Otherwise, is it possible to drink milk,” he said.
The chief minister cited higher input costs for plastic packaging, diesel, and petrol, which have pushed up transportation expenses.
Procurement Demands and Transport Fares
Dairy farmers and unions had initially sought an increase of ₹12 to ₹15 per litre, but the government settled on ₹8 following stakeholder consultations. Shivakumar said the demand for a price revision had been pending for the past couple of years.
State authorities also indicated that state transport bus fares could be revised in the coming days, as the government continues to assess operational costs.