Nandini price hike: Pralhad Joshi accuses Karnataka of using KMF to mask fiscal mismanagement
Synopsis
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has levelled a direct political attack on Karnataka's Congress government, alleging that back-to-back Nandini price hikes — curd up as much as 26%, milk up ₹8 per litre — are not about farmer welfare but about plugging holes in a fiscally stretched state budget. The Karnataka government insists ₹7 of the ₹8 milk hike goes to dairy farmers.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on 31 October 2026 accused Karnataka's Congress government of using KMF price hikes to conceal fiscal mismanagement.
500 ml Nandini curd price raised from ₹28 to ₹34 — a 21.43% increase.
1-litre Nandini curd price raised from ₹54 to ₹68 — a 25.93% increase.
A separate ₹8 per litre hike in Nandini milk takes effect on 1 November 2026 .
The Karnataka government says ₹7 of the milk price hike goes to dairy farmers and ₹1 to KMF for operations.
Joshi alleged the government was 'collecting money from the poorest sections of society' through repeated KMF price revisions.
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi on Saturday, 31 October 2026, sharply criticised the Congress government in Karnataka over steep hikes in Nandini curd prices, alleging that the state was weaponising the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) to paper over what he called deep fiscal mismanagement. The attack came a day after the Karnataka government announced an ₹8 per litre hike in Nandini milk prices, effective 1 November 2026.
The Price Hikes in Numbers
According to Joshi, the price of 500 ml Nandini curd has been raised from ₹28 to ₹34 — a jump of ₹6, or 21.43%. The one-litre curd pack has gone up from ₹54 to ₹68, an increase of ₹14, or 25.93%. These hikes follow the milk price revision announced a day earlier, making the cumulative impact on household budgets significant, the minister argued.
Joshi's Allegations Against the Congress Government
Joshi alleged that the government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had set a new record in price increases by imposing unprecedented hikes on essential commodities, placing an additional burden on ordinary consumers. 'While giving curd to the people, the Congress government is enjoying the butter,' he said, in a pointed remark accusing the administration of exploiting consumers.
He further alleged that the Congress government was 'collecting money from the poorest sections of society' through repeated KMF price increases to compensate for depleted state coffers. The successive hikes, he said, reflected anti-people policies and a failure to manage Karnataka's finances effectively.
What the Karnataka Government Says
The Karnataka government has defended the milk price hike, stating that of the ₹8 per litre increase, ₹7 goes directly to dairy farmers and ₹1 goes to KMF for operational expenses. The government has not yet issued a detailed response to Joshi's remarks on the curd price revision specifically.
Context and Broader Impact
This comes amid mounting criticism of Karnataka's fiscal position, with opposition leaders repeatedly flagging the state's borrowings and expenditure on the Congress-led government's guarantee schemes. Notably, KMF — one of the largest dairy cooperatives in Asia — has been a politically sensitive institution in Karnataka, and any revision to Nandini prices tends to trigger a strong public reaction given the brand's deep penetration in urban and rural households alike.
The curd price hike of 21–26% is particularly significant for low- and middle-income families who rely on dairy products as an affordable protein source. With food inflation already a concern at the national level, the back-to-back revisions in milk and curd prices are likely to amplify political pressure on the Shivakumar administration in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
And a 25% curd price hike hands them a vivid, kitchen-table argument. What the government's own defence reveals, however, is a structural tension: KMF cannot simultaneously subsidise consumers, reward farmers adequately, and fund cooperative operations without periodic price corrections — regardless of which party is in power. The unanswered question is whether the hike quantum is driven by genuine input cost increases or by the state's broader revenue stress, and neither side has yet provided audited data to settle that debate.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the price of Nandini curd been increased in Karnataka?
The Karnataka government has not separately explained the curd price revision, but Union Minister Pralhad Joshi alleges it is being used to offset fiscal mismanagement by the state. The government has defended the accompanying milk price hike by saying it benefits dairy farmers.
By how much have Nandini curd prices been hiked?
The price of 500 ml Nandini curd has been increased from ₹28 to ₹34 — a hike of ₹6 or 21.43%. The one-litre pack has gone up from ₹54 to ₹68, a rise of ₹14 or 25.93%, according to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.
What is the Nandini milk price hike and when does it take effect?
The Karnataka government has announced an ₹8 per litre hike in Nandini milk prices, effective 1 November 2026. Of the ₹8 increase, the government says ₹7 goes to dairy farmers and ₹1 to KMF for operational expenses.
What is KMF and why does it matter?
The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) is one of Asia's largest dairy cooperatives and the body behind the Nandini brand of milk and dairy products. It serves millions of households across Karnataka, making any revision to its prices a politically and economically sensitive issue.
What has the Congress government said in response to Pralhad Joshi's allegations?
The Karnataka government has not directly responded to Joshi's allegations of fiscal mismanagement. It has justified the milk price hike by pointing to farmer benefit, but has not yet issued a statement specifically addressing the curd price revision or the mismanagement charge.
