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National Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission
Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (Dalhan Aatmanirbharta Mission)
GS Paper III – Indian Economy & Agriculture | ₹11,440 Cr · 2025-26 to 2030-31 · 350 LMT Target · 489 Districts · SATHI Portal | Updated Current Affairs 2025-26 | PYQs + MCQs
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Mission Overview
Pulses in India
7 Pillars
Challenges
Existing Schemes
Current Affairs
Way Forward
Mains PYQs
Practice MCQs
₹11,440 Cr
Mission outlay (2025-26 to 2030-31)
350 LMT
Production target by 2030-31 (from ~25-26 MT)
310 lakh ha
Area target (adding 35 lakh ha, rice fallows)
6.7 MT
Pulse imports FY25 — 9-year high
850-900
Current yield kg/ha (vs global avg 1,200-1,300)
87%
Pulses are rain-fed — climate vulnerable
1. Mission Overview — At a Glance
📋 Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses — Key Facts
| Official Name | Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses / Dalhan Aatmanirbharta Mission |
| Announced | Union Budget 2025-26 |
| Cabinet Approval | October 1, 2025 (Cabinet chaired by PM Modi) |
| Launch | October 11, 2025 — PM Modi launched at IARI, New Delhi; roadmap finalised at National Pulses Conference, FLRP, Amlaha, Sehore, MP (February 7, 2026) |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare |
| Scheme Type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) |
| Duration | 6 years — 2025-26 to 2030-31 |
| Financial Outlay | ₹11,440 crore |
| Focus Crops | Tur/Arhar (pigeon pea), Urad (black gram), Masoor (red lentil) — the three most import-dependent pulses |
| Target Districts | 489 districts identified as pulse clusters |
| Farmer Coverage | ~2 crore farmers to benefit |
| Self-Sufficiency Goal | December 2027 (interim) / 2030-31 (full mission) |
Why Now? India's pulse imports hit a 9-year high of 6.7 MT in FY25 — nearly triple the 5-year average of 2018-23. Domestic production stagnated at 25-26 MT against rising demand. Yellow pea imports alone crossed 2.04 MT. With tur, urad, and masoor prices crashing below MSP due to excess imports, farmer distress in pulses became acute. The mission is India's structural response to break this import-dependence cycle.
2. Current Status of Pulses in India
2.1 India's Position in Global Pulses
🌍 Global Standing
- World's largest producer, importer AND consumer of pulses — unique triple position
- ~24-25% of global production
- ~27% of global consumption
- ~13-15% of global imports (but highest in absolute volume)
- Top 3 states: Madhya Pradesh (22.11% share), Maharashtra, Rajasthan
📉 Production Reality (2024-25)
- Area: declined from peak 30.6 mn ha (2021-22) to ~26.9 mn ha (2024-25)
- Production: stagnant at 25-26 MT (vs 27.3 MT peak in 2021-22)
- Chickpea area: 11.2 mn ha (2022-23) → 9.9 mn ha (2024-25) — sharpest decline
- Average yield: 850-900 kg/ha vs global avg 1,200-1,300 kg/ha (FAO 2023)
- ~87% of pulses are rain-fed — climate vulnerable
📦 Import Crisis FY25
- Total imports: ~6.7 MT (9-year high) — 52% jump over previous year
- Yellow pea: 2.04 MT (~31% of total) — highest since FY18
- Chickpea: 1.31 MT; Lentils: 1.29 MT; Pigeon pea: significant volume
- Duty-free imports enabled by government to control food inflation
- India reimposed 30% duty on yellow peas — October 2025 — after farm price crashes
- Urad prices dropped 25% from ₹100+/kg; tur prices fell from $1,400 to $800/tonne
2.2 Seasonal Pattern & Key Pulses
| Season | Key Pulses | Key States | Share of Production |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabi (Oct–Mar sowing; Mar–May harvest) | Gram/Chickpea (Chana), Lentil (Masoor), Field Pea, Rajma | MP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, UP, Karnataka | ~60-62% of total production — Rabi dominant |
| Kharif (Jun–Jul sowing; Sep–Oct harvest) | Tur/Arhar (Pigeon Pea), Urad (Black Gram), Moong (Green Gram) | Maharashtra, Karnataka, MP, Rajasthan, UP | ~35-38% of production — most import-deficit crops |
| Summer/Zaid | Moong (Green Gram), Urad (Black Gram) | Punjab, Haryana, UP (post-wheat harvest) | ~2-3% — small but important for rice fallow utilisation |
Nutritional Significance: Pulses contribute 20-25% of total protein intake in Indian diets — the most affordable protein source in a predominantly vegetarian country. Per capita pulse consumption falls short of the recommended 85 grams/day. Being leguminous crops, pulses fix atmospheric nitrogen, improve soil fertility, and reduce chemical fertiliser needs — making them environmentally sustainable and climate-smart. They align with the global shift toward plant-based proteins.
3. Mission Architecture — 7 Key Pillars
Pillar 1
🌱 Seed Development & Distribution
- 126 lakh quintals certified seeds distributed (covering 370 lakh ha by 2030-31)
- 88 lakh free seed kits over 6 years for rice fallow expansion
- Rabi 2025-26: 10.36 lakh seed kits allocated to states
- High-yielding, pest-resistant, short-duration, climate-resilient varieties
- Breeder seed by ICAR; foundation/certified seed by states & central agencies
- "One Block–One Seed Village" for local seed hubs + FPO-led distribution
Pillar 2
📱 SATHI Portal — Seed Traceability
- SATHI: Seed Authentication, Traceability & Holistic Inventory
- Centralized portal — MoA&FW + National Informatics Centre (NIC)
- URL: seedtrace.gov.in
- Tracks entire seed lifecycle: breeder seed → foundation → certified → retail sale
- States mandated to prepare 5-year rolling seed production plans
- Ensures quality assurance, certification, licensing, and inventory management
Pillar 3
🗺️ Cluster-Based Approach
- 489 districts identified as pulse clusters across India
- Geographically contiguous clusters enable collective input supply
- Common agronomy practices + direct linkage to processors and markets
- Cluster-based model recommended by NITI Aayog
- Area expansion targets 35 lakh ha of rice fallows — moong/urad in rice fallow fields post-harvest
- Promotes intercropping and crop diversification
Pillar 4
📢 Assured Procurement — PM-AASHA
- 100% MSP procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masoor guaranteed in participating states for 4 years
- NAFED and NCCF as lead procurement agencies under PM-AASHA (PSS)
- Mechanism for monitoring global pulse prices to calibrate import duty policy
- Prevents market price crash below MSP (as seen in 2024-25)
- Farmer confidence in price floor → shifts acreage from rice-wheat to pulses
Pillar 5
🏭 Post-Harvest Infrastructure
- 1,000 processing & packaging units (dal mills) approved for mission period
- First phase: 528 units allocated to states/UTs
- UP: 56 units (highest); MP: 55; Bihar: 37; Maharashtra: 34; Karnataka and Rajasthan next
- Subsidy: up to ₹25 lakh per processing unit
- Reduces post-harvest losses; improves farmers' share of consumer price; creates rural employment
- Decentralised dal milling reduces long-distance transport costs
Pillar 6
🔬 Research & Capacity Building
- ICAR-ICARDA partnership at FLRP (Food Legumes Research Platform) — Amlaha, Sehore, MP
- Multi-location variety trials in pulse-growing states for regional suitability
- Convergence with Soil Health Card programme, SMAM (mechanisation), balanced fertiliser use
- KVK demonstrations + state agricultural department support
- Structured training for farmers and seed growers on sustainable practices and modern technologies
Pillar 7
🔗 Value Chain & Market Access
- End-to-end value chain approach: seed → farm → processing → market
- Shift from raw pulses to protein-rich value-added products — local processing and branding
- FPO-led seed distribution and collective marketing
- Digital portal for pulses mission monitoring launched at FLRP Conference (Feb 2026)
- Import duty policy (30% on yellow peas, Oct 2025) creates domestic market space
4. Key Challenges in Pulse Production
- 87% of pulses are rain-fed — no assured irrigation; vulnerable to erratic monsoons, mid-season drought, untimely rains at harvest
- India's pulse production peaked at 27.3 MT in 2021-22 and has stagnated at 25-26 MT — largely due to weather aberrations
- Climate change increasing unpredictability: Tur and Urad particularly vulnerable — short rain spells required at specific growth stages
- Mission response: Climate-resilient, drought-tolerant, short-duration varieties; rice fallow utilisation (uses residual soil moisture)
- Per the Dalwai Committee (DFI), pulses diversification is critical precisely because they can grow in rain-fed conditions where rice/wheat cannot
- Rice and wheat enjoy not just MSP but assured procurement (by FCI) — pulses have MSP but procurement is erratic and limited
- Irrigation infrastructure biased toward paddy (free/subsidised electricity for pumps in Punjab/Haryana) — pulses left to rainfed
- NFSA procurement creates structural demand for rice/wheat but not pulses
- Farmer rational calculus: when rice gives ₹2,000/quintal MSP with assured procurement vs chana at ₹5,440/quintal MSP but uncertain procurement — rice is safer
- In bumper years, market prices of chana and tur fall 20-30% below MSP, discouraging repeat cultivation
- Mission response: 100% procurement guarantee for Tur/Urad/Masoor for 4 years — breaks this asymmetry
- India's average pulse yield: 850-900 kg/ha vs global average 1,200-1,300 kg/ha (FAO 2023) — a 30-35% yield gap
- Seed replacement rate (SRR) for pulses is low — farmers use farm-saved seeds for multiple seasons, reducing genetic potential
- High-yielding varieties exist at ICAR-IIPR (Indian Institute of Pulse Research, Kanpur) but dissemination to farmers is slow
- Pest pressure: 15-30% losses from pod borer (Helicoverpa), wilt (Fusarium), and other pests — low IPM adoption
- Mission response: 126 lakh quintals certified seeds + SATHI portal for quality tracking + "One Block–One Seed Village"
- Less than 10% of pulse production is processed near farm gates — most transported raw to distant mills
- Long distance transport (farm → distant dal mill → retailer) increases costs, reduces farmer's price share
- Post-harvest losses: significant grain quality loss during storage; beetle infestation common in village storage
- Consumer end vs farmer end: retail dal prices remain high even when farm prices crash — broken value chain
- Mission response: 1,000 dal mills with ₹25 lakh subsidy each — decentralised processing at cluster level
- Government oscillates between free imports (to control food inflation) and duty imposition (to protect farmers) — creates market uncertainty for domestic cultivators
- Yellow pea: government allowed duty-free imports from December 2023; reimposed 30% duty in October 2025 after farmer distress
- Pigeon pea and black matpe: duty-free imports allowed until March 2026
- Import surge FY25 (6.7 MT) crashed domestic tur prices from $1,400 to $800/tonne; urad fell 25%
- Farmers who planted pulses expecting MSP protection saw market prices crash due to import flood
- Mission response: Monitor global pulse prices + procurement guarantee creates floor below which prices cannot fall
- Small/marginal holdings (~0.7-1 ha) restrict mechanisation — pulse harvesting still largely manual in most states
- Pulse pods ripen unevenly → manual harvesting necessary → high labour cost → poor economic viability
- Short-duration varieties help reduce the labour bottleneck; but mechanised harvesters for pulses remain scarce
- Mission response: Convergence with SMAM (Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation) for cluster-level Custom Hiring Centres with pulse-specific machinery
- Declining pulse area from 29.3 mn ha (2016-17) to 26.9 mn ha (2024-25) reflects fragmented economics of pulse cultivation
5. Existing Schemes for Pulse Promotion
| Scheme | Key Feature | Relevance to Mission |
|---|---|---|
| NFSM-Pulses National Food Security Mission |
Boosts area, production, and productivity through HYV seeds, improved agronomy, demonstrations, and extension | Mission builds on NFSM framework; amplifies seed distribution and demonstration components |
| PM-AASHA (2018; continued 2024) |
PSS (Price Support Scheme) — NAFED/NCCF procurement at MSP; PDPS (Price Deficiency Payment Scheme) — cash difference; PPPS (Private Procurement and Stockist Scheme) | Mission relies on PM-AASHA PSS for 100% Tur/Urad/Masoor procurement guarantee for 4 years |
| MSP for Pulses | MSP regularly revised; Chana MSP ₹5,440/quintal (2024-25); Tur ₹7,000/quintal; Urad ₹7,400/quintal; Masoor ₹6,425/quintal | Price floor; mission makes MSP meaningful through procurement guarantee — MSP alone without procurement is ineffective |
| Pulses Buffer Stock (2016) |
Maintains 2-3 MT buffer to stabilise domestic supply and retail prices; NAFED the key agency | Supports price stabilisation; prevents both farm-gate crash and retail spikes |
| Seed Hub Program ICAR-IIPR Kanpur |
Breeder seed production for high-yielding pulse varieties; technology transfer to state seed corporations and FPOs | ICAR-IIPR is backbone of mission's seed pillar; SATHI portal tracks its output through the chain |
| NITI Aayog Cluster Model | Recommended cluster-based approach for pulses; pilot studies across Rajasthan, MP, Gujarat, AP, Karnataka | Mission adopts NITI Aayog's cluster recommendation — insights from 885 farmers across 5 states |
6. Current Affairs 2025–26 High Priority
🏛️ Cabinet Approval & PM Launch — Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses
- Cabinet approval: October 1, 2025 — Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi
- PM Launch: October 11, 2025 at IARI, New Delhi — PM Modi interacted with pulse farmers, highlighted value chain-based growth
- ₹11,440 crore outlay for 6 years (2025-26 to 2030-31) — Centrally Sponsored Scheme
- Focus on 3 crops most affected by imports: Tur (Arhar), Urad, Masoor
- 489 districts identified as pulse clusters; 2 crore farmers to benefit
- Part of Viksit Bharat 2047 agricultural vision
🌾 National Pulses Conference — Roadmap Finalised (Feb 2026)
- National Pulses Consultation and Strategy Meeting held at FLRP (Food Legumes Research Platform), Amlaha, Sehore district, Madhya Pradesh
- Chaired by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan; MP CM Dr. Mohan Yadav special guest
- Agriculture Ministers from Odisha, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Gujarat, UP, Haryana participated
- Scientists from ICAR-ICARDA, progressive farmers, FPOs, seed producers, pulse mill representatives — "from the fields, not from files in Delhi"
- Launched digital Pulses Mission portal; inaugurated new research laboratories at FLRP
- PM-AASHA procurement mechanism activated for Tur/Urad/Masoor; rolling seed plans from states finalised
- Self-sufficiency target: December 2027 (interim) confirmed as milestone
📦 Import Policy Changes — Yellow Pea Duty Reimposed
- FY25 pulse imports: ~6.7 MT — 9-year high, 52% jump over previous year (Business Standard data)
- Yellow pea: 2.04 MT (~31% of imports) — highest since FY18; cheapest landed price drove substitution of domestic dal
- Government allowed duty-free yellow pea imports from December 2023; reimposed 30% import duty in October 2025 after farmer price distress
- Pigeon pea (tur) and black matpe: duty-free until March 2026 to control domestic prices
- Urad prices dropped 25% from ₹100+/kg; tur prices crashed from $1,400 to $800/tonne — MIS prompted in several states
- Tension: Government balancing farmer interests (higher prices) vs consumer inflation (cheaper dal) — the classic agricultural policy dilemma
🎯 Mission Targets by 2030-31
- Production: 350 LMT (lakh metric tonnes) — from current ~260 LMT; a 40% increase (Deccan Chronicle, Oct 2025)
- Area: 310 lakh ha — adding 35 lakh ha through rice fallow utilisation and crop diversification
- Yield: 1,130 kg/ha — from current 850-900 kg/ha; closes ~40% of gap with global average
- Seeds: 126 lakh quintals certified seeds distributed (370 lakh ha); 87.5 lakh free seed kits
- Dal mills: 1,000 units; first phase: 528 units to states; ₹25 lakh subsidy/unit
- Procurement: 100% MSP coverage for Tur/Urad/Masoor in participating states for 4 years under PM-AASHA
- SATHI Portal: Full seed traceability from breeder to certified seed — quality and accountability across the supply chain
🏭 Dal Mill Allocation — First Phase (528 Units)
- Out of 1,000 total approved processing units, first phase: 528 units allocated to states/UTs
- State-wise (Top 5): Uttar Pradesh — 56; Madhya Pradesh — 55; Bihar — 37; Maharashtra — 34; Karnataka & Rajasthan — next
- Each unit: subsidy up to ₹25 lakh; supports decentralised processing, reduces transport costs, creates local employment
- For UPSC: Note UP leads despite MP being largest pulse producer (22.11% share) — UP has larger farmer base and highest pulse consumption
7. Way Forward
💰 Make MSP Meaningful
100% procurement guarantee under Mission is correct — but needs extension beyond 4 years and beyond 3 crops. E-NAM integration for pulses, FPO-led collective selling, and price deficiency payments (PDPS under PM-AASHA) for states not covered under PSS can expand coverage without unlimited fiscal commitment.
💧 Break the Rain-Fed Ceiling
Rice fallow utilisation (residual moisture), micro-irrigation for urad/moong, and PMKSY integration for pulse clusters can reduce rain-dependency from 87% toward 70%. Short-duration varieties (55-65 day moong) enable double-cropping even in rainfed areas with limited water.
🌱 Accelerate Seed Replacement Rate
SATHI portal + 126 lakh quintal certified seed distribution + "One Block–One Seed Village" programme must raise SRR for pulses from current ~20% to 40%+. ICAR-IIPR's released varieties (MACS-450, Pusa Arhar-16, VBN-8) need rapid scale-up through KVKs and FPOs.
🏭 Decentralise Processing — Dal Mill Network
1,000 dal mills must be established as clusters — not scattered units. Link each dal mill to a cluster of villages with direct farm-gate procurement. Dal mill operators to be trained as agri-entrepreneurs under RKVY startup programme. Processing near farm gate reduces 15-20% transport losses.
🌍 Stable Import Policy
Import duty oscillation (duty-free → 30% duty) creates investment uncertainty for domestic pulse farmers. A medium-term import tariff roadmap aligned with the mission's production targets (2027/2031) would give farmers a predictable price signal. Price monitoring mechanism (as mentioned in Mission) is the first step.
🥣 PDS & POSHAN Integration
Include pulses in PMGKAY (Public Distribution System) rations at scale — currently rice/wheat dominant. MDM (Mid-Day Meal) and POSHAN Abhiyan dal supply using Mission produce can create assured demand for domestic pulse production while improving nutrition outcomes.
The Core Paradox: India is simultaneously the world's largest producer AND largest importer of pulses — importing to consume what it produces less of. This is not a supply paradox but a policy paradox: decades of subsidising rice-wheat at the expense of pulses have created structural disincentives. The Dalhan Aatmanirbharta Mission attempts to correct this through procurement guarantee, seed reform, and value chain development — but sustained political commitment over 6 years is the critical variable.
8. UPSC Mains PYQs & Practice Questions
15 Marks
⏱ ~18 minutes | 200 words
GS Paper III2025-26 CurrentPulses Mission
Despite India being the world's largest producer and consumer of pulses, it remains a major importer. Analyse the reasons for this paradox and discuss how the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025-31) addresses these structural challenges.
Introduction: India — world's largest producer, consumer AND importer of pulses. FY25: imports at 6.7 MT (9-year high), despite domestic production of 25-26 MT. This paradox reflects structural supply-demand gaps and decades of policy neglect.
Reasons for the Paradox:
Reasons for the Paradox:
- Policy bias: Rice-wheat MSP with assured FCI procurement vs pulses with nominal MSP but erratic procurement — farmer rational shift away from pulses
- Rain-dependency: 87% of pulses rain-fed; climate shocks reduce yields unpredictably; area declined from 30.6 mn ha (2021-22) to 26.9 mn ha (2024-25)
- Yield gap: 850-900 kg/ha vs global 1,200-1,300 kg/ha — low SRR for seeds; pest pressure (15-30% losses); no IPM adoption
- Processing deficit: <10% processed near farm gate; broken value chain; farmer's share of consumer price is low
- Import policy instability: Duty-free import cycles crash domestic prices — tur fell from $1,400 to $800/tonne in 2024-25
- Rising demand: India's pulse consumption rising with incomes and urbanisation, but production stagnant
- Seed reform: 126 lakh quintals certified seeds + 87.5 lakh free seed kits + SATHI portal for traceability → closes yield gap
- Procurement guarantee: 100% MSP procurement (Tur/Urad/Masoor) for 4 years via NAFED/NCCF under PM-AASHA → fixes policy bias
- Cluster approach: 489 district clusters + 35 lakh ha rice fallow utilisation → breaks geographic fragmentation
- Dal mills: 1,000 processing units (₹25 lakh subsidy each) → decentralised processing addresses value chain gap
- Import policy alignment: 30% duty on yellow peas (Oct 2025) + price monitoring mechanism → creates domestic market space
- ICAR-ICARDA-FLRP research: Climate-resilient, short-duration varieties → reduces rain-dependency
10 Marks
⏱ ~12 minutes | 150 words
GS Paper IIIFood Security
What are the key challenges in achieving self-sufficiency in pulses in India? Discuss the role of the SATHI portal and the cluster-based approach in addressing them.
Introduction: Pulses = affordable protein for 1.4 billion Indians (20-25% protein intake). India's per capita consumption falls below recommended 85g/day. Despite being the world's largest producer, India imported 6.7 MT in FY25 — a 9-year high. Self-sufficiency requires addressing 5 structural challenges simultaneously.
Key Challenges:
Cluster-Based Approach: 489 districts identified as pulse clusters. Geographically contiguous clusters enable: collective input supply (reduced cost), common agronomy practices (better IPM, mechanisation), direct processor-market linkage (reduced intermediary margin). NITI Aayog-recommended model pilots confirmed in Rajasthan, MP, Gujarat, AP, Karnataka. Rice fallow utilisation (35 lakh ha target) uses residual soil moisture for Zaid pulses — moong/urad in post-rice fields.
Conclusion: SATHI + clusters together address the twin gaps in seed quality and market connectivity — the two most tractable challenges in the short term.
Key Challenges:
- Seed quality: Low Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) — farmers use farm-saved seeds for multiple seasons; yield stays at 850-900 kg/ha vs potential 1,400+ kg/ha with improved varieties
- Policy bias: MSP without procurement assurance is ineffective — chana prices fell 20-30% below MSP in bumper years despite MSP declaration
- Rain-dependency: 87% rain-fed; climate shocks create boom-bust production cycles; chickpea area fell from 11.2 to 9.9 mn ha in 3 years
- Processing gap: <10% processed near farm; high transport costs; farmer price share is low
- Import volatility: Duty-free imports in inflation-control years crash domestic prices; farmer investment in pulses becomes risky
Cluster-Based Approach: 489 districts identified as pulse clusters. Geographically contiguous clusters enable: collective input supply (reduced cost), common agronomy practices (better IPM, mechanisation), direct processor-market linkage (reduced intermediary margin). NITI Aayog-recommended model pilots confirmed in Rajasthan, MP, Gujarat, AP, Karnataka. Rice fallow utilisation (35 lakh ha target) uses residual soil moisture for Zaid pulses — moong/urad in post-rice fields.
Conclusion: SATHI + clusters together address the twin gaps in seed quality and market connectivity — the two most tractable challenges in the short term.
10 Marks
⏱ ~12 minutes | 150 words
GS Paper IIIAgriculture
Discuss the agronomic and environmental significance of pulses in India's cropping systems. How can expanding pulse cultivation contribute to both nutritional security and climate-resilient agriculture?
Introduction: Pulses occupy ~20% of India's foodgrain area but contribute only 7-9% of output — a reflection of neglect, not potential. Their agronomic and environmental benefits make them indispensable to sustainable agriculture.
Agronomic Significance:
Conclusion: Expanding pulse cultivation is a triple win — nutritional security, soil health, and climate resilience. The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses' rice fallow target (35 lakh ha) is the most ecologically sound component.
Agronomic Significance:
- Nitrogen fixation: Leguminous pulses fix 40-200 kg N/ha through Rhizobium root bacteria — reduces chemical fertiliser need by 20-25%; directly counters India's 11:4:1 N:P:K imbalance
- Soil health improvement: Root biomass improves soil organic matter, water-holding capacity, and microbial diversity — rotational crops (rice-wheat-pulse) show 15-20% higher yields than rice-wheat alone
- Intercropping benefits: Pulse intercropping with sorghum, maize, sugarcane improves total farm output and reduces risk; moong+maize intercropping standard in Rajasthan and Gujarat
- Short-duration advantage: 55-90 day varieties fit into rice fallow and wheat-soybean rotation windows — maximises cropping intensity without additional irrigation
- Low carbon crop: Pulses have the lowest carbon footprint per unit of protein among all food crops — aligning with Paris Agreement commitments
- Water efficiency: Rain-fed pulse cultivation requires 200-400 mm water vs rice's 1,000-2,000 mm — critical in water-stressed states (Rajasthan, Gujarat)
- Biodiversity support: Diverse pulse varieties preserve agro-biodiversity; traditional varieties often have drought/pest tolerance
- Climate resilience: Short-duration varieties can be planted as catch crops after monsoon failure of other crops
Conclusion: Expanding pulse cultivation is a triple win — nutritional security, soil health, and climate resilience. The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses' rice fallow target (35 lakh ha) is the most ecologically sound component.
9. Practice MCQs — Pulses Mission
Q 1
The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025-31) targets which of the following by 2030-31?
1. Increase pulses production to 350 lakh metric tonnes.
2. Expand pulses cultivation area to 310 lakh hectares.
3. Raise yield to 1,130 kg/ha (from current 850-900 kg/ha).
4. Achieve 100% self-sufficiency in all 23 pulse varieties currently imported.
1. Increase pulses production to 350 lakh metric tonnes.
2. Expand pulses cultivation area to 310 lakh hectares.
3. Raise yield to 1,130 kg/ha (from current 850-900 kg/ha).
4. Achieve 100% self-sufficiency in all 23 pulse varieties currently imported.
Statement 4 is WRONG: The mission does NOT claim 100% self-sufficiency in all 23 pulse varieties. The stated target is self-sufficiency in pulses broadly, with specific focus on Tur (Arhar), Urad, and Masoor — not all imported varieties. India continues to import chickpea (chana), yellow pea, and other pulses to meet demand. The mission targets reducing overall import dependence, not eliminating all pulse imports across all varieties. Statements 1 ✅ (350 LMT production target — official Cabinet PIB), 2 ✅ (310 lakh ha area — official Cabinet PIB), 3 ✅ (1,130 kg/ha yield target — official PM India website). These three figures are from the official October 1, 2025 Cabinet approval documents and should be memorised for UPSC. Correct answer: (b).
Q 2
SATHI portal, launched under the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, stands for:
SATHI stands for Seed Authentication, Traceability & Holistic Inventory. It is a centralized portal developed by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare in partnership with the National Informatics Centre (NIC). URL: seedtrace.gov.in. It tracks the entire seed lifecycle — from breeder seed production → foundation seed → certified seed → retail licensing and sale — ensuring quality assurance and preventing adulterated or fake seeds from entering the system. States are required to use SATHI for all seed quality monitoring under the Mission. The portal enables farmers to verify seed authenticity before purchase — addressing the critical problem of spurious seeds that keep pulse yields below potential. SATHI is a key term for UPSC MCQs on the pulses mission. Correct answer: (b).
Q 3
Consider the following about India's pulse imports in FY 2024-25:
1. India's total pulse imports reached approximately 6.7 million tonnes — a 9-year high.
2. Yellow pea imports accounted for approximately 31% of total pulse imports.
3. India reimposed import duty on yellow peas in October 2025 after farm prices crashed.
4. The import surge was primarily driven by export bans by major pulse-producing countries like Canada and Australia.
Which are CORRECT?
1. India's total pulse imports reached approximately 6.7 million tonnes — a 9-year high.
2. Yellow pea imports accounted for approximately 31% of total pulse imports.
3. India reimposed import duty on yellow peas in October 2025 after farm prices crashed.
4. The import surge was primarily driven by export bans by major pulse-producing countries like Canada and Australia.
Which are CORRECT?
Statement 4 is WRONG: The import surge was NOT caused by export bans from Canada or Australia. The opposite was true — India's import surge was driven by India's own policy of allowing duty-free imports to control domestic food inflation, along with competitive global pricing (especially cheap Canadian yellow peas and Australian chickpeas). Domestic production shortfalls due to weather also contributed. Statement 1 ✅ (6.7 MT — 9-year high, Business Standard April 2025). Statement 2 ✅ (Yellow pea: 2.04 MT, ~31% of total imports — highest since FY18). Statement 3 ✅ (India reimposed 30% import duty on yellow peas in October 2025 after tur and urad farm prices crashed by 25%+ — Agriculture Minister Chouhan recommended reimposition). Correct answer: (c).
Q 4
Under the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, which agency is designated to ensure 100% MSP procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masoor in participating states?
NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation) and NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers' Federation) are designated as lead procurement agencies under PM-AASHA's Price Support Scheme (PSS) for pulse procurement under the Mission. NAFED has historically been the primary pulse procurement agency — it also manages the 2-3 MT pulses buffer stock. FCI (option a) handles rice and wheat but NOT pulses — extending FCI procurement to pulses is a proposed reform but not the current mission design. ICAR-IIPR (option c) is a research institution, not a procurement agency. State APMCs (option d) are regulated markets, not procurement agencies. The distinction between FCI (rice/wheat) and NAFED/NCCF (pulses/oilseeds) is a frequently tested UPSC fact. Correct answer: (b).
Q 5
The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses targets expanding pulse area by 35 lakh hectares primarily through utilising rice fallows. Which of the following correctly explains the concept of "rice fallow utilisation" in this context?
"Rice fallow utilisation" refers to growing short-duration pulses — primarily moong (green gram) and urad (black gram) — in post-harvest rice fields during the Rabi or Zaid (summer) season. After Kharif rice harvest (October-November), vast areas in eastern India (Bihar, UP, West Bengal, Odisha), Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu lie fallow until the next Kharif season. These fields have: residual soil moisture from monsoon; moderate temperature in winter/summer; no major input cost needed (residual rice nutrients). Short-duration moong (55-65 days) or urad (65-75 days) varieties can be grown without additional irrigation on this residual moisture — adding a third crop to the annual cycle. This is the single most scalable strategy for pulse area expansion without converting existing crop lands. The Mission targets 35 lakh ha of such rice fallows — primarily in eastern India where rice dominates and farmers have no Rabi option. Correct answer: (c).
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