After milk, Nandini curd up Rs 14 a litre; Pralhad Joshi, hoteliers object
By Ishita SenCulture & Heritage Editor, Peepals Sanskriti
Representative image: Pexels / Pixabay
Nandini curd costs Rs 68 a litre from November 1, 2026, up Rs 14, on top of the Rs 8 milk rise; Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and Bengaluru hoteliers object.
What Happened
A day after Karnataka raised the price of Nandini milk by Rs 8 a litre, the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has also raised Nandini curd prices sharply from Sunday, November 1, 2026, drawing criticism from Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and the Bangalore Hotels Association. A one-litre pack of Nandini curd now costs Rs 68, up from Rs 54, a rise of Rs 14 or 25.93%, and a 500 ml pack costs Rs 34, up from Rs 28, a rise of Rs 6 or 21.43%. In a statement on Saturday, October 31, Joshi, the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, accused the state's Congress government of using the federation to cover what he called fiscal mismanagement. The hotels' association called the increase excessive, and the state BJP has announced statewide protests over the milk and curd prices.
Key Facts
- New curd prices from November 1, 2026: one litre Rs 68 (was Rs 54); 500 ml Rs 34 (was Rs 28).
- Size of rise: Rs 14 (25.93%) per litre pack; Rs 6 (21.43%) per 500 ml pack.
- Milk: the Nandini milk price rise of Rs 8 a litre also takes effect on November 1; of that, Rs 7 goes to dairy farmers and Re 1 to milk unions, the state says.
- Criticism: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said, "While giving curd to the people, the Congress government is enjoying the butter," and alleged the state was using KMF to fill depleted coffers.
- Industry: the Bangalore Hotels Association said the increase was excessive and would burden consumers and businesses.
- Politics: the Karnataka BJP has announced statewide protests over the milk and curd price increases.
- History: reports describe this as the third curd price rise in Karnataka in about three and a half years.
Why It Matters
Nandini curd and milk are staples in Karnataka kitchens and in the state's hotels, darshinis and restaurants, which use large quantities every day for curd rice, buttermilk and sweets. When both rise on the same day, families feel it in the monthly budget, and eateries face a choice between absorbing the cost and raising menu prices.
The percentages are what stand out. A rise of more than a quarter in the price of a litre of curd is far steeper than the milk increase, and it lands at once. For a household that buys a litre of curd a day, the extra cost is about Rs 420 a month at the new price; for a busy hotel buying dozens of litres a day, it runs into thousands.
The government's case rests on farmers. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has said the milk increase is meant to help dairy farmers facing hard times and to prevent losses, pointing to higher packaging and transport costs and arguing that neighbouring states pay more for milk. On milk, the state says Rs 7 of every Rs 8 goes straight to farmers. It has not been reported how the curd increase will be shared.
The dispute is now political. Joshi's attack, the hotels' objection and the BJP's call for protests mean the prices will remain a live issue in the coming weeks.
| Product | Old price | New price (from Nov 1) | Rise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curd, 1 litre | Rs 54 | Rs 68 | Rs 14 (25.93%) |
| Curd, 500 ml | Rs 28 | Rs 34 | Rs 6 (21.43%) |
| Milk | | | Rs 8 a litre |
Impact
Short-term: Households in Karnataka pay more for curd and milk from November 1, and hotels and restaurants may raise prices of items such as curd rice, buttermilk and coffee. Protests by the BJP are expected across the state.
Long-term: If the extra money reaches dairy farmers as promised, it could support milk production in a difficult year. If the outcry grows, the government may face pressure to revisit the curd increase.
Who is affected: Consumers across Karnataka, especially lower and middle-income families; hotels, restaurants and sweet shops; dairy farmers who supply KMF; and the state government.
Key Takeaway
Nandini curd costs up to 26% more from November 1, 2026, on top of the Rs 8 milk rise, and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Bengaluru hoteliers and the state BJP are pushing back.
Questions and Answers
What is the new Nandini curd price?
From November 1, 2026, a one-litre pack costs Rs 68 (up from Rs 54) and a 500 ml pack costs Rs 34 (up from Rs 28).
How much has Nandini milk gone up?
Nandini milk costs Rs 8 more a litre from November 1, 2026. The state says Rs 7 of that goes to dairy farmers and Re 1 to milk unions.
Who has criticised the Nandini price hike?
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, the Bangalore Hotels Association and the Karnataka BJP, which has announced statewide protests.
Why did the government raise prices?
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has said the milk increase is meant to help dairy farmers and prevent losses, citing higher packaging and transport costs.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Ishita Sen, Culture & Heritage EditorCovers Culture & Heritage and more for Peepals Sanskriti. All stories by Ishita Sen
Get the day's stories in your inbox
Peepals Weekly: the week decoded, free. One email a week, unsubscribe in one click.
Ishita Sen is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
