New Delhi : Cabinet approved 7% MSP hike for 6th Rabi crop and 4% DA hike for central government employees.
Good news for government employees in the festive season, the Union Cabinet approved 4 percent increase in dearness allowance under the Seventh Pay Commission! Till now the central government employees were getting 42 percent DA, after the increase of 4 percent, they will get 46 percent dearness allowance. Employees will get increased DA from July 2023, as a result, they will get arrears or dues of the last few months. This will benefit 47 lakh central govt. employees and 68 lakh pensioners. DA for central government employees is calculated on the basis of the latest Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW).
The 7 percent increased minimum selling price (MSP) for six major Rabi crops will be applicable for the next marketing season of 2024-25. Union Information Minister Anurag Singh Thakur further said that the Cabinet has approved 7 percent increase in MSP for lentils, barley and sunflower. The highest increase in MSP has been approved for lentils by Rs 425 per quintal. The government has increased the MSP of wheat by Rs 150 per quintal to Rs 2,275 per quintal for 2024-25. This is the highest increase by the Narendra Modi-led government since it came to power in 2014. The government said in an ex-post that the MSP of wheat has increased from Rs 1,400 in 2014-15 to Rs 2,275 in 2024-25.
Anurag Thakur said the CCEA has approved the increase in MSP for all essential Rabi crops for the 2024-25 marketing season. He said, “Based on the recommendation of CACP, we have increased the MSP of 6 Rabi crops. The MSP of wheat has been increased by Rs 150 per quintal.” He said the support price of wheat for the 2024-25 marketing season has been increased from Rs 2,125 per quintal to Rs 2,275 per quintal in 2023-24. Wheat is the main rabi (winter) crop, sowing of which begins in October, while harvesting takes place in April. MSP is the minimum rate ensured to protect the interests of farmers and below this rate grains are not purchased by government procurement agencies.
The Cabinet approved Rs 20,773.7 crore for setting up transmission lines to draw power for the 13 GW renewable energy project in Ladakh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech announced setting up of 7.5 GW solar park in Ladakh.
