Nandini milk may cost up to Rs 8 more per litre from November 1

Nandini milk is set to become costlier by up to Rs 8 per litre after the Karnataka Cabinet approved a price hike on October 6, but held back its announcement due to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

The government will seek the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) approval before implementing the hike, with Chief Minister DK Shivakumar authorised to take the final call on the extent of the increase. The revised prices are likely to come into effect from November 1, subject to ECI clearance.

If the full Rs 8 increase is passed on to consumers, Nandini toned milk, sold in the blue packet, will cost Rs 54 per litre, up from the current Rs 46. Of the proposed Rs 8 increase, Rs 6 is expected to go to milk producers and Rs 2 to milk unions.

The hike comes after milk unions sought an increase of Rs 8 to Rs 10 per litre, citing rising costs of cattle feed, fodder, medicines, transportation and plastic packaging. They also pointed to fodder shortages caused by the drought and Karnataka’s lower milk procurement price compared to neighbouring states.

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

The proposed increase would be the fifth revision in Nandini milk prices since November 2022. Prices were increased by Rs 3 per litre in November 2022, another Rs 3 in July 2023, Rs 2 in June 2024 and Rs 4 in March 2025.

In June 2024, consumers were given an additional 50 ml of milk for every litre following the price increase. The Karnataka Milk Federation later withdrew the additional quantity.

The MCC is currently in force for elections to four Legislative Council seats, comprising two graduates’ and two teachers’ constituencies. Polling is scheduled for October 23, with counting and declaration of results on October 27.

The Cabinet did not issue its usual briefing after Tuesday’s meeting because of the MCC. The Cabinet also approved a proposal to digitalise the judiciary at a cost of Rs 704 crore. This includes establishing a data centre and disaster rehabilitation centre for the judiciary through the Karnataka State Data Centre and other digitalisation programmes.

The Cabinet approved the purchase of Emergency Responder Kits for 10,350 volunteers being trained under the Yuva Apad Mitra scheme at a cost of Rs 10.35 crore. Each kit will cost Rs 10,000.

It also approved a proposal to purchase medicines for public health hospitals at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore.