Cabinet Hikes Copra MSP by Up to ₹445 per Quintal for 2026 Season
The MSP has been fixed for the ‘fair and average quality’ of both milling and ball copra on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
New Delhi: In a move to ensure fair access and optimal utilisation of the resource in the country’s diverse industrial uses and exports, the Union Cabinet on Friday cleared creation of a new window named ‘CoalSETU’ under which the government allows linkage holders to export up to 50 percent of coal capacity. Besides, the Cabinet also hiked Copra minimum support price or MSP by up to Rs 445 per quintal for the 2026 season.
As far as coal reforms are concerned, the policy for auction of coal linkage for seamless, efficient and transparent utilisation of CoalSETU is expected to add to the series of coal sector reforms being undertaken by the Centre. The policy will allow allocation of coal linkages on an auction basis on long-term for any industrial use and export by adding a separate window named CoalSETU in the non-regulated sector (NRS) linkage auction policy of 2016.
Announcing the decision after the cabinet meeting, information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that any domestic buyer requiring coal could participate in the linkage auction, irrespective of the end use. “The coking coal shall not be offered under this window,” he said.
The minister further said that the country has produced so much coal that we can start looking at exports, and the government is now focusing on the promotion of coal exports. “Linkage holders can now export up to 50 per cent of their quantity and flexibly utilise the fuel among group companies as needed,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved an increase of the minimum support price (MSP) for milling copra by up to Rs 445 to Rs 12,027 per quintal for the 2026 season, a move aimed at ensuring better returns to coconut growers and boosting production to meet rising demand for coconut products.
The copra marketing season in India typically runs from January to April, with major producing states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala contributing significantly during this period. “The higher MSP is expected to incentivise farmers to expand copra production to meet growing demand for coconut products both domestically and internationally,” an official statement said.
Vaishnaw, however, said that the government also raised the MSP for ball copra by Rs 400 to Rs 12,500 per quintal for the same period. The MSP has been fixed for the ‘fair and average quality’ of both milling and ball copra on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
