Fertiliser subsidy for rabi 2026-27 rises 64% to ₹62,370 crore amid global price pressures

Agri Inputs

New Delhi: The Union Government has approved a fertiliser subsidy outlay of ₹62,370.02 crore for phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers for the Rabi 2026-27 season, marking a 64.3% increase over the ₹37,952.29 crore approved for the corresponding season last year. The decision, cleared by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, comes against the backdrop of rising international fertiliser prices, supply-chain disruptions and higher input costs. The revised allocation is intended to ensure the availability of essential crop nutrients to farmers at subsidised and affordable rates. The additional requirement amounts to approximately ₹24,417.73 crore compared with the previous Rabi season. The approved Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) rates will remain applicable from October 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, covering fertilisers such as Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and various NPKS grades. Under the revised NBS framework, subsidy rates have been increased for nitrogen, phosphate and sulphur, while the rate for potash remains unchanged. The revised per-kilogram nutrient subsidy rates for Rabi 2026-27 are: Nitrogen: ₹94.21 per kg, compared with ₹43.02 previously. Phosphate: ₹66.11 per kg, compared with ₹47.96 previously. Potash: ₹2.38 per kg, unchanged. Sulphur: ₹10.42 per kg, compared with ₹2.87 previously. The sharpest increase has been provided for nitrogen and...