The Karnataka government has announced a sharp price hike across key Nandini dairy products, impacting households across the state just ahead of the festive Diwali season. The price of a one-litre sachet of Nandini ghee has climbed from 715 rupees to 850 rupees, while 500 grams of salted butter now costs 380 rupees, up from 339 rupees. A kilogram of paneer has also seen an increase from 411 rupees to 485 rupees. This development follows a recent eight-rupee increase in milk prices, which the administration stated was initiated to directly support local dairy farmers facing distress during drought conditions, with seven rupees going to producers and one rupee allocated to the Milk Federation. However, the move has triggered concerns among middle-class consumers over rising household budgets and questions about competitive pricing against other major brands.
