The Karnataka Cabinet on October 6 approved a proposal to increase Nandini milk prices by Rs 8 per litre. The government will seek Election Commission approval before implementing the hike due to the Model Code of Conduct. Sources said the price increase is likely to take effect from November 1.

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Karnataka Cabinet on October 6 approved a proposal to increase Nandini milk prices by Rs 8 per litre. However, the hike was not announced as Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in force for Legislative Council elections.

The government will seek the Election Commission’s approval before implementing the increase. A final decision is expected at the next Cabinet meeting.

Sources said the price hike is likely to take effect from November 1, with the final extent of the increase to be decided by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

Fifth milk price hike in recent years

If implemented in full, Rs 8 per litre increase would be the fifth hike in Nandini milk prices in recent years. In March 2025, milk prices were increased by Rs 4 per litre. In June 2024, prices were raised by Rs 2 per litre, although consumers were given an additional 50 ml of milk for every litre. The additional quantity was later withdrawn by the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF).

In July 2023, milk prices were increased by Rs 3 per litre, while prices were also raised by Rs 3 per litre in November 2022.

The latest increase would take the price of Nandini’s basic toned milk variety, sold in the blue packet, from the current Rs 46 per litre to Rs 54 per litre if the entire Rs 8 hike is passed on to consumers.

Milk unions sought Rs 8-10 per litre hike

Milk unions had cited rising costs of cattle feed, fodder and medicines, along with higher transportation and plastic packaging costs and drought-related fodder shortages, as reasons for seeking a revision in milk prices.

Representatives of the milk unions had met Shivakumar and sought an increase of Rs 8-10 per litre.

The unions said toned milk is procured at Rs 35 per litre in Karnataka, compared with Rs 41.50 in Andhra Pradesh, Rs 41.80 in Kerala, Rs 41 in Maharashtra and Rs 42.24 in Tamil Nadu.

ZP, TP polls likely in first week of January

The Cabinet also held detailed discussions on conducting Zilla Panchayat (ZP) and Taluk Panchayat (TP) elections in the first week of January.

The Cabinet is broadly in favour of holding the elections during the first week of January. The government has decided to conduct Gram Panchayat elections after the ZP and TP polls.

Five police commissionerates under GBA jurisdiction

The Cabinet also approved a proposal to divide the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) jurisdiction into five police commissionerates.

The five commissionerates will be Bengaluru Central, Bengaluru East, Bengaluru West, Bengaluru North and Bengaluru South.