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Diversify agriculture and encourage farmers to grow pulses, Supreme Court tells government

March 15, 2026 4 min read Economics Polity & Governance GS2 (Government Policies) GS3 (Agriculture Food Security)
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What Happened

  • The Supreme Court urged the Union government to convene a meeting of stakeholders — including representatives from farming communities and policymakers — to examine issues around pulse cultivation and pricing.
  • The bench directed the Centre to revisit its policy of permitting duty-free import of yellow peas, which has been depressing domestic pulse prices below the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
  • The Court observed that better coordination between the Ministries of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs is essential to ensure that MSP for pulses is remunerative and not undercut by cheaper imports.
  • It emphasized that a guaranteed platform for farmers to sell pulses at MSP would encourage crop diversification away from water-intensive paddy and wheat.
  • The petitioners contended that duty-free yellow pea imports until March 2026 caused a surge of cheaper imports, directly hurting farmers across several states who had shifted to pulse cultivation.

Static Topic Bridges

MSP is a price floor announced by the Union government to protect farmers from market volatility. It is determined annually on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), an apex advisory body under the Ministry of Agriculture. CACP recommends MSPs for 23 commodities, including 5 pulses: gram (chana), tur (arhar), moong, urad, and lentil (masur).

  • MSP currently has no statutory backing — it is a policy guarantee, not a legal entitlement. Farmers have no enforceable right to demand MSP in court.
  • The CACP was established in March 1985 with a broader mandate to balance the interests of producers, consumers, and the national economy.
  • Procurement of pulses and oilseeds at MSP is done under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) under PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Anna Data Aay SanRakshan Abhiyan) by NAFED and NCCF.
  • The legal demand for MSP guarantee was a central demand during the 2020-21 farm laws protests, eventually leading to withdrawal of the three farm laws.

Connection to this news: The Supreme Court's direction highlights a structural paradox — the government announces MSP for pulses but simultaneously permits duty-free imports that depress domestic prices below MSP, making the price guarantee hollow without import policy alignment.

Crop Diversification — Policy Imperative and Food Security Linkage

India's agricultural crisis is partly rooted in over-cultivation of water-intensive paddy and wheat, especially in Punjab, Haryana, and western UP, driven by guaranteed MSP procurement through Food Corporation of India (FCI). Pulses, oilseeds, and millets are protein-rich, less water-intensive, and critical for nutritional food security.

  • India is the world's largest producer and consumer of pulses, yet imports significant quantities (especially tur dal, urad, yellow peas) due to domestic shortfall.
  • Per capita pulse availability in India has declined from over 60 grams/day in the 1950s to around 42-47 grams/day, below the WHO-recommended 80 grams/day.
  • The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) covers cereals but does not mandate pulse procurement and distribution through PDS, reducing the procurement incentive for pulses.
  • Union Budget 2023-24 allocated funds for the National Mission on Edible Oils and pulses to enhance domestic production.

Connection to this news: The Supreme Court's emphasis on crop diversification reinforces the policy case for extending procurement guarantees to pulses to make them as attractive to farmers as paddy/wheat.

Supreme Court's Role in Agricultural Policy — Judicial Oversight of Executive Action

The Supreme Court's power to issue directions to the executive in matters of public interest derives from Article 32 (right to constitutional remedies) for fundamental rights violations and Article 142 (power to do complete justice). In the farm sector, courts have increasingly been called upon to balance farmer welfare (Articles 21, 14) with consumer interests.

  • The Supreme Court cannot directly fix MSP or import duties — these are executive and legislative functions. However, it can direct the government to reconsider policies, convene stakeholder consultations, and file compliance reports.
  • Article 48 of the Constitution (DPSP) directs the State to "organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines" — courts have invoked DPSPs as interpretive tools.
  • Import duties on agricultural commodities fall under the Union List (Schedule VII, Entry 83: duties of customs) — Parliament and the executive have plenary power here.
  • The Court's direction to convene a stakeholder meeting is a softer form of judicial direction, stopping short of mandating specific policy outcomes.

Connection to this news: The Supreme Court's intervention signals that prolonged absence of a coherent import-MSP linkage policy has elevated the issue to constitutional concern, potentially triggering Article 21 (right to livelihood) arguments by farmers.

Key Facts & Data

  • Pulses covered under MSP: 5 crops — gram, tur, moong, urad, lentil
  • CACP recommends MSP for 23 commodities (7 cereals, 5 pulses, 7 oilseeds, 3 commercial crops)
  • PM-AASHA scheme: PSS procurement agency — NAFED and NCCF
  • India's per capita pulse availability: ~42-47 grams/day (WHO recommends 80 grams/day)
  • Yellow pea duty-free import policy was in force until March 2026
  • National Food Security Act, 2013 covers cereal grains — does not mandate pulse distribution through PDS
  • Inter-ministerial coordination gap flagged by SC: Ministry of Agriculture vs. Ministry of Consumer Affairs