Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar on Thursday, 29 October 2026, defended the state cabinet's decision to raise the price of Nandini milk by ₹8 per litre, arguing that the revision was necessary to prevent financial losses to dairy farmers and that Karnataka's milk prices remain lower than those in neighbouring states. The hike had been preceded by a cross-party demand from legislators across both houses of the state legislature.

Why the Government Raised the Price

Shivakumar stated that farmers had been pressing for a price revision for two years, with some demands running as high as ₹12 to ₹15 per litre. 'The government is helping farmers. Farmers are important to us,' he said, responding to questions at a press interaction. He also pointed to rising input costs — including plastic packaging, diesel, and petrol — that have pushed up the transportation cost of milk, making a revision unavoidable.

The Chief Minister drew a pointed comparison with consumer water prices, noting that people routinely pay ₹30–35 for a litre of bottled water, framing the milk price increase in that context. 'If there are farmers, we can drink milk. Otherwise, is it possible to drink milk?' he said.

Karnataka Milk Cheaper Than Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu

Shivakumar maintained that even after the ₹8 hike, Nandini milk remains priced lower than comparable products in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. He noted that this price differential had reportedly led to milk being routed from Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, a leakage the government sought to address. He also cited robust external demand for Nandini products: 'Tirupati buys Nandini ghee. They could buy it locally, but they trust Nandini. There is high demand for Nandini ghee for Mysore Pak and other items.'

Cross-Party Support and Electoral Timing

The Chief Minister revealed that MLAs across party lines had demanded a price hike in both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. He acknowledged that the decision had been deferred earlier on account of elections. 'A decision could not be taken earlier due to elections. Now that elections are over, the decision has been made,' he said. The admission that poll considerations delayed a farmer-welfare measure is likely to draw scrutiny from the opposition.

Bus Fare Hike Also on the Table

Separately, Shivakumar addressed questions on a possible increase in bus fares, indicating that the state's Transport Department had suffered heavy losses and had even faced a shortage of funds for diesel. He said the department itself had been asked to decide on fare revisions, while noting that the government continues to provide free bus travel for women — a flagship welfare scheme that significantly dents the department's revenue. No timeline was given for a fare decision.

What Comes Next

The ₹8 per litre increase in Nandini milk prices takes effect following the cabinet approval. Consumer groups and opposition parties are expected to scrutinise the rollout and may demand that the government share data on how the additional revenue is passed on to farmers. Meanwhile, Shivakumar's remarks suggest that further cost-driven revisions — in transport, among other sectors — cannot be ruled out in the near term.