What Happened
- India's total pulses imports declined by 4.5% to 65.69 lakh tonnes (6.57 million tonnes) in 2024-25, down from higher levels in 2023-24, reflecting improved domestic production.
- The decline comes after record-high imports in 2023-24, driven by a surge in domestic demand and a shortfall in local production following weather disruptions.
- The fall is attributed to a better monsoon in 2024, improved area under pulse cultivation, and government MSP procurement support that kept farmers engaged in pulse growing.
- Key imported varieties include peas, chickpeas (desi), pigeon peas (tur/arhar), and lentils.
- Despite the decline, India remains a large-scale importer of pulses, and domestic production is still unable to fully meet national demand.
Static Topic Bridges
India's Pulses Sector — Production, Demand, and Import Dependence
India is the world's largest producer and consumer of pulses, accounting for approximately 25-30% of global production and about 27% of global consumption. Pulses (legumes) include lentils (masoor), chickpeas (chana), pigeon peas (tur/arhar), black gram (urad), green gram (moong), and yellow peas. Despite its scale, India's domestic production consistently falls short of demand, partly because pulses are typically grown on rainfed, marginal lands and face higher yield variability compared to cereals. After peaking at 27.3 million tonnes in 2021-22, annual production has plateaued in the 25-26 million tonne range.
- India's position: World's largest producer and consumer of pulses
- Annual production: ~25-26 million tonnes (recent years); peaked at 27.3 million tonnes (2021-22)
- Planted area: Declined from peak 30.6 million hectares (2021-22) to 26.9 million hectares (2024-25)
- Major import sources: Canada, Australia, Myanmar, Russia, USA (for various varieties)
- Top imported varieties: Yellow peas (Canada/Russia), desi chickpeas (Australia/Canada), pigeon peas (Myanmar/Africa), lentils (Canada)
- Import policy: Government allows liberal imports of tur, urad, moong, lentil, chickpea, yellow pea to manage food inflation
Connection to this news: The 4.5% decline in imports reflects improved 2024 kharif and rabi pulses output, but the volume (65+ lakh tonnes) still signals that India's supply gap persists and import dependence remains structural.
Minimum Support Price and Government Procurement for Pulses
To incentivize pulses cultivation and reduce India's import dependence, the government has progressively increased MSPs for pulses and strengthened procurement infrastructure. The PM-AASHA scheme (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan) launched in 2018 includes a Price Deficiency Payment (PDP) component for pulses. The 2025-26 Union Budget further committed to 100% procurement of tur (arhar), urad, and masoor production at MSP for four years (up to 2028-29). NAFED and NCCF (National Cooperative Exports Limited) are primary procurement agencies for pulses.
- PM-AASHA: Launched 2018; includes Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Deficiency Payment (PDP), and Private Procurement and Stockist Scheme (PPSS)
- Budget 2025-26: 100% tur, urad, masoor procurement at MSP guaranteed for 4 years (to 2028-29)
- PM-AASHA procurement guarantee enhanced: ₹45,000 crore → ₹60,000 crore
- MSP for tur 2024-25: ₹7,550 per quintal; urad: ₹7,400; masoor: ₹6,700
- Procurement agencies: NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation) and NCCF
- CACP recommends MSP; CCEA approves
Connection to this news: Strong MSP signals and enhanced procurement commitments have kept farmers investing in pulse cultivation, contributing to improved production that partially explains the decline in imports in 2024-25.
India's Food Inflation Management and Import Policy
Pulses are a critical protein source for India's predominantly vegetarian population and a key driver of food inflation, particularly the Consumer Price Index (CPI) protein basket. When domestic prices spike due to supply shortfalls, the government intervenes through liberal import permissions (often zero or reduced duty), release of buffer stocks, and export restrictions. India maintains a strategic buffer of pulses under the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) scheme, with NAFED/NCCF procuring and releasing stocks to cool prices.
- Price Stabilization Fund (PSF): Established to build buffer stocks of key commodities including pulses, onions, potatoes; Ministry of Consumer Affairs nodal ministry
- Import duty on pulses: Frequently reduced to zero to ensure adequate domestic supply; government uses import licensing flexibly
- CPI food and beverages: Pulses have their own sub-index; spike in tur prices has historically been a political trigger
- Export restrictions: India periodically bans/restricts pulse exports during domestic shortfalls
- India's self-sufficiency goal: Government targets atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in pulses through area expansion and yield improvement programs
Connection to this news: The easing of imports reflects not just better production but also the government's ongoing balancing act — keeping food inflation in check while avoiding excessive import dependence that undermines domestic farmer incentives.
Key Facts & Data
- India's pulses imports 2024-25: 65.69 lakh tonnes (6.57 million tonnes)
- Year-on-year change: −4.5% from 2023-24
- India's annual pulse production: ~25-26 million tonnes (plateaued; peak was 27.3 MT in 2021-22)
- Cultivated area: 26.9 million hectares (2024-25); declined from 30.6 Mha peak in 2021-22
- Top imported pulses: Yellow peas, desi chickpeas, pigeon peas, lentils
- PM-AASHA: Launched 2018; Price Support Scheme + Price Deficiency Payment for pulses
- Budget 2025-26: 100% tur/urad/masoor procurement at MSP for 4 years (to 2028-29)
- PM-AASHA guarantee: Enhanced from ₹45,000 crore to ₹60,000 crore
- Procurement agencies: NAFED and NCCF
- Price Stabilization Fund (PSF): Nodal ministry — Ministry of Consumer Affairs