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National Pulses Mission (2025–31)

02 Oct 2025 GS 3 Economy
National Pulses Mission (2025–31) Click to view full image

Introduction

  • Approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by PM.

  • Official name: Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses.

  • Duration: 2025–26 to 2030–31.

  • Budget allocation: ₹11,440 crore.

  • Context: India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses but relies on imports due to rising demand and stagnant yields.

Objectives

  1. Achieve self-sufficiency in pulses production by 2030–31.

  2. Increase production from 242 lakh tonnes (2023–24) → 350 lakh tonnes (2030–31).

  3. Reduce import dependency, conserve foreign exchange.

  4. Strengthen food and nutritional security.

  5. Enhance farmer incomes through assured MSP procurement.

Targets

  • Area Expansion: From 242 lakh ha → 310 lakh ha.

  • Yield Improvement: From 881 kg/ha → 1,130 kg/ha.

  • Seed Distribution:

    • 126 lakh quintals of certified seeds by 2030–31.

    • 88 lakh free seed kits to farmers.

  • Processing Infrastructure: 1,000 new packaging and processing units with subsidy up to ₹25 lakh.

Key Features

  1. Crop Focus: Tur (Arhar), Urad, Masur.

  2. Cluster-based Approach: Implementation in 416 focused districts.

  3. Assured Procurement:

    • 100% procurement of tur, urad, masur under Price Support Scheme (PSS) of PM-AASHA.

    • Nafed and NCCF to handle procurement in participating states.

  4. Seed Ecosystem:

    • Multi-location trials for high-yielding, pest-resistant, climate-resilient varieties.

    • State-level five-year rolling seed production plans.

    • SATHI portal for seed authentication and traceability.

  5. Rice Fallow Utilisation: Promote pulses in rice fallow areas, intercropping, crop diversification.

  6. Value Chain Strengthening: Procurement, storage, processing, reduction of post-harvest losses.

  7. Global Price Monitoring: Mechanism to track international pulse prices for stability.

  8. Capacity Building: Training farmers in sustainable and modern technologies.

Benefits & Impact

  • Economic:

    • Boost farmers’ income, assured returns through MSP (up to 109% over cost for rabi crops).

    • Reduce import bill (India currently imports ~15–20% of domestic demand).

  • Nutritional: Pulses as a rich source of protein → strengthen nutritional security.

  • Social: Employment generation in seed, processing, and value-chain sectors.

  • Environmental:

    • Promote climate-resilient agriculture.

    • Improve soil health through nitrogen-fixing properties of pulses.

    • Productive utilisation of rice fallows.



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