Context:

The Union Finance Minister in the Budget 2025-26 announced the launch of a six-year “Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses”

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• The Union Budget 2025-26 has allocated Rs 1,000 crore for the mission for achieving self-reliance in pulses.
• This six-year-long Mission has a special focus on tur/arhar (pigeon pea), urad (black gram) and masoor (red lentil).
• The Mission will place emphasis on the development and commercial availability of climate-resilient seeds, enhancing protein content, increasing productivity, improving post-harvest storage and management and assuring remunerative prices to the farmers.
• NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) and NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India) will be ready to procure these 3 pulses, as much as offered during the next 4 years from farmers who register with these agencies and enter into agreements. 
• Self-sufficiency is the prime requirement in pulses as India’s pulses imports during April-November 2024 were valued at $3.28 billion, 56.6% higher than the $2.09 billion for the corresponding period of 2023.

Overview of Pulses in India 

India, with >34 Million ha pulses cultivation area (out of the world’s total 93.93 Million ha), is the largest pulse-producing country in the world.

India ranks first in area and production with 36% and 27% respectively.

At the same time, India also ranks first in terms of consumer (27% of global consumption) and importer (14%) of pulses in the world. 

Madhya Pradesh (22%), Maharashtra (16%), Rajasthan (16%), Uttar Pradesh (10%), and Karnataka (08%), are the top five pulse-producing states.

Pulses are grown in all three seasons. However, Rabi pulses contribute more than 60% of the total production. 

• Kharif Pulses: Arhar (Tur), Urad (Blackgram), Moong (Greengram), Lobia (Cowpea), Kulthi (Horsegram) and Moth; 
• Rabi Pulses: Gram (Chick Pea), Lentil, Pea, Lathyrus and Rajmash; 
• Summer Pulses: Greengram, Blackgram and Cowpea. 

Under individual crop category, gram with 47% production share to total pulses is the highest contributor followed by Tur (15%), Mung (12%), Urd (10%) and Lentil (5%).

Key Government Initiative for the Pulse Production

National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Pulses: The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implemented the NFSM-Pulses in 28 States and 2 Union Territories (Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh) to increase the production of pulses through area expansion and productivity enhancement. 

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY): Under it, states can promote pulses with approval of the State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) headed by the Chief Secretary of the State.

Minimum Support Price (MSP): The MSPs for pulses have also been increased over the years to encourage the farmers to grow more pulses by ensuring remunerative prices. 

• Currently, the MSP support is provided to 5 Pulses - Gram, Masur, Tur/Arhar, Moong, Urad.