Pulses Cultivation in India Latest News
- In response to surging pulse imports and rising domestic demand, the Department of Consumer Affairs, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has initiated a targeted programme.
- This programme aims to promote pulses (like arhar (tur) and urad) cultivation in India during the Kharif season 2025.
- This is part of a broader food security and import reduction strategy.
Key Highlights and Government Initiatives
- Launch of pulse cultivation campaign:
- Aim: The Department of Consumer Affairs will promote arhar and urad cultivation through seed distribution campaigns.
- Implementation: By the National Cooperative Consumer’s Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF).
- Extent: The campaign is extended from a successful pilot in two Jharkhand districts to 12 districts across seven states –
- Jharkhand: Palamu, Latehar, Garhwa
- Uttar Pradesh: Mirzapur, Lalitpur
- Bihar: Gaya, Jehanabad
- Karnataka: Vijaypura
- Others: Manipur and Tripura (districts not specified)
- Criteria for district selection: Rainfed areas, presence of Aspirational Blocks as identified by NITI Aayog.
- Financial and procurement support:
- ₹1 crore allocated for seed distribution.
- 100% procurement guarantee at Minimum Support Price (MSP) if market price falls.
- MSP for Kharif Marketing Season 2025-26 –
- Arhar: ₹8,000/quintal
- Urad: ₹7,800/quintal
Pulse Production and Trade Trends
- Overview:
- Pulses are rich in protein (20–25% by weight); crucial for a carbohydrate-rich Indian diet.
- India is the largest producer of pulses globally.
- Major pulses produced in India are Arhar (Tur), Urad, Moong, Masur, Gram, etc.
- Domestic production trends:
- Increased from 163.23 lakh tonnes in 2015–16 to 244.93 lakh tonnes in 2023–24.
- Key producing states: MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, UP, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, etc.
- Import-export data (in lakh tonnes):
- In 2021-22, imports are 26.99 and exports are 3.87.
- In 2022-23, imports are 24.96 and exports are 7.62.
- In 2023-24, imports are 47.38 (~$5 billion) and exports are 5.94 ($ 686.9 million) Imports doubled in 2023–24 compared to previous year, highlighting dependency risks.
- Major export destinations: Bangladesh, China, UAE, USA, Sri Lanka.
- India’s major destinations for pulse imports: Canada, Australia, Myanmar, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
Policy Support for Pulse Cultivation
- Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA): Under the Price Support Scheme (PSS), the government procures pulses at MSP. Procurement limit of 25% lifted for Tur, Masoor, and Urad during 2023–24 and 2024–25.
- National Food Security Mission (NFSM): Implemented in 28 States and 2 UTs (J&K and Ladakh), it aims to enhance foodgrain production including pulses.
- Crop Diversification Programme (CDP): Implemented in Green Revolution States – Haryana, Punjab, Western UP, it encourages shift from water-intensive paddy to pulses and oilseeds.
- Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY): It offers states flexibility to address regional agricultural needs, including pulse promotion.
Last updated on Sep, 2026
→ UPSC 2027 Notification will be released on 13 January 2027 at upsconline.nic.in.
→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus here.
→ Download UPSC Model Answers for Mains 2026
→ UPSC Mains Question Paper 2026 is out now for Essay & GS Paper 1, 2, 3 & 4.
→ UPSC Calendar 2027 has been released.
→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2027 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.
→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mentorship Program 2027 for personalized guidance, strategy planning, and one-to-one support from experienced mentors.
→ Go through the UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers to enhance your preparation.
→ UPSC has released UPSC Toppers List 2025 with the Civil Services final result on its official website.
→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India
Pulses Cultivation in India FAQs
Q1. Discuss the significance of the Government’s recent initiative to promote arhar and urad cultivation in the context of India’s pulse import dependency.+
Q2. Examine the role of central government schemes such as PM-AASHA, NFSM, and CDP in promoting sustainable pulse cultivation in India.+
Q3. How does the use of institutions like the National Cooperative Consumer’s Federation (NCCF) reflect a cooperative approach in implementing agricultural policy?+
Q4. Critically analyze how targeting 'Aspirational Blocks' and rainfed areas under the pulse cultivation campaign supports inclusive agricultural development.+
Q5. Evaluate the role of pulse promotion in enhancing nutritional security in India.+
Tags: mains articles pulses cultivation in india upsc current affairs upsc mains current affairs
