Abstract

India’s agricultural and consumer markets operate under two critical price indicators: the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers and the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for consumers. These two benchmarks were originally introduced to stabilize agricultural markets protect producers from exploitation and ensure affordable access to essential commodities for consumers. However over the decades a striking and persistent gap has emerged between MSP and MRP reflecting structural inefficiencies market distortions supply-chain complexities and policy limitations. This gap has profound implications for agricultural sustainability farmer income security consumer welfare inflation control and economic equity. The present research paper examines the historical evolution economic rationale and practical functioning of MSP and MRP in India. It evaluates the factors contributing to the widening price disparity across agricultural commodities analyzes the role of intermediaries logistics value addition