What is MSP? over which the farmers are protesting near the Delhi Border

MSP stands for Minimum Support Price. It is a price announced by the Indian government for certain crops, intended to protect farmers if market prices fall sharply after harvest.

The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommends MSP rates, and the Union government approves them. MSPs are announced for 22 mandated crops, including paddy, wheat, pulses, oilseeds and some commercial crops. Sugarcane has a separate Fair and Remunerative Price.

The issue behind farmers’ protests near the Delhi borders is not simply whether MSP rates are announced. Farmers have sought a legal guarantee of MSP—meaning buyers would be required to purchase eligible crops at no less than the announced price. They argue that an announcement alone does not ensure every farmer can actually sell at that rate.

In practice, government procurement at MSP is most substantial for wheat and paddy, and access varies by crop and region. That gap between an announced price and a dependable buyer is a central part of the dispute.