🗞️ Why in News The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses — announced in Union Budget 2025-26 and formally launched in October 2025 — received focused attention for its progress, with a Rs 11,440 crore outlay targeting 350 lakh tonnes production of Tur, Urad, and Masoor by 2030-31 and establishment of 1,000 pulse mills across the country.

Why Pulses Matter — The Nutritional and Economic Imperative

India’s paradox: India is simultaneously the world’s largest producer AND consumer of pulses — contributing approximately 25% of global pulse production — yet continues to import significant quantities every year. In 2023-24, India imported 47.38 lakh tonnes of pulses worth thousands of crores of rupees, primarily because domestic production consistently falls short of demand.

Nutritional significance:

  • Pulses contribute 20–25% of total protein intake in Indian diets
  • WHO/ICMR recommended intake: 85 grams per person per day — India’s per capita consumption falls significantly short of this standard
  • Pulses are critical for food and nutritional security, particularly for the large vegetarian population and low-income households that cannot afford animal protein
  • Pulses are the cheapest source of plant protein; price spikes in Tur (arhar dal) and Urad (black gram) directly impact food inflation and household budgets

Agricultural significance:

  • Pulses are nitrogen-fixing crops (through symbiotic bacteria in root nodules — Rhizobium) — they enrich soil fertility and reduce synthetic fertiliser requirements
  • Climate-resilient: Most pulse varieties require relatively low rainfall (25–60 cm) and can grow in semi-arid conditions — important for rain-fed, dryland farming areas
  • Short duration crops: Many pulse varieties mature in 60–90 days, fitting into intercropping and multi-cropping systems

India’s Pulse Production — A 70-Year Story of Decline and Recovery

India’s pulse sector has undergone three distinct phases:

Phase 1 — Post-Independence decline (1950–2000):

  • Pulses’ share in total foodgrain output: fell from 16% in 1950 to approximately 8% by the 2000s
  • Green Revolution (1960s–70s) prioritised wheat and rice — large subsidies, minimum support prices, irrigation, and HYV seeds were concentrated on cereals
  • Pulses received comparatively little policy attention, investment, or water resources
  • Result: production stagnated while population grew

Phase 2 — Policy correction (2000–2020):

  • National Food Security Mission (NFSM) launched in 2007 — included a dedicated Pulses component
  • Minimum Support Price (MSP) increases for Tur, Urad, Masoor, Moong, Chickpea (Chana)
  • PM-AASHA (PM Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan) — price support and procurement mechanism for oilseeds and pulses
  • Result: Production recovered to 252.38 lakh tonnes (2024-25) — a 31% increase from 192.6 lakh tonnes in 2013-14

Phase 3 — Mission Aatmanirbharta (2025-2031):

  • Structural mission targeting complete self-sufficiency and elimination of imports by 2030-31

Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses — Architecture

Budget: Rs 11,440 crore (2025-26 to 2030-31)

Target crops: Tur (Pigeon Pea/Arhar), Urad (Black Gram), Masoor (Red Lentil) — chosen because these three account for the majority of India’s pulse imports and have the highest price volatility

Area expansion target: Expand pulse cultivation by 35 lakh hectares — from current ~275 lakh hectares to 310 lakh hectares total

Production target: 350 lakh tonnes by 2030-31 (from current 252.38 lakh tonnes — a ~39% increase)

Procurement:

  • 100% assured procurement of Tur, Urad, Masoor at MSP for 4 years
  • Procurement agencies: NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) and NCCF (National Cooperative Exports Limited) under the PM-AASHA scheme
  • Price stabilisation: the assured procurement addresses the key farmer concern — even when market prices fall below MSP, the government guarantees purchase

Input support:

  • Farmer seed kits distributed
  • Rs 10,000 per hectare for farmers adopting model farming practices
  • High-Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds developed by ICAR research stations

Processing infrastructure:

  • 1,000 pulse processing mills to be established (55 in Madhya Pradesh alone)
  • Government subsidy: Rs 25 lakh per mill — making processing a viable investment for farmer producer organisations (FPOs) and cooperatives
  • Purpose: reduce post-harvest losses and add value — currently, most pulses are sold as raw produce with limited processing

Technology:

  • SATHI Portal (Seed Authentication, Traceability & Holistic Inventory): Automated seed life-cycle management platform — tracks seed from production to distribution, ensuring quality, authenticity, and traceability; prevents sub-standard seed sale to farmers

Geography of Pulse Production

Leading states:

  • Madhya Pradesh — largest producer; dominant in Tur and Chana
  • Maharashtra — major Tur producer
  • Rajasthan — dominant in Moong and Moth Bean
  • Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka — significant producers

Agroclimatic requirements (key for Prelims):

  • Temperature: 20–27°C
  • Rainfall: 25–60 cm (rain-fed farming compatible)
  • Soil: Sandy-loamy (well-drained; water-logging kills pulse crops)
  • Classification: Pulses belong to the Leguminosae/Fabaceae (Legume) family

UPSC Relevance

Prelims: Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (Rs 11,440 crore, 2025-2031), target crops (Tur/Urad/Masoor), production target (350 lakh tonnes by 2030-31), current production 252.38 lakh tonnes, import 47.38 lakh tonnes (2023-24), SATHI Portal (full form), NAFED, NCCF, PM-AASHA, 1,000 pulse mills (Rs 25 lakh/mill subsidy), Rs 10,000/hectare, India = world’s largest pulse producer (25% of global production), share in foodgrain from 16% (1950) to 8% (2022-23), protein intake (20-25% of Indian diet), ICMR recommended 85 g/day, Leguminosae/Fabaceae family.

Mains GS-3: Food security; agricultural self-sufficiency; nutritional security; crop diversification policy; MSP and procurement systems; pulse price inflation; NFSM-Pulses; soil health (nitrogen fixation).

📌 Facts Corner — Knowledgepedia

Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses:

  • Announced: Union Budget 2025-26; launched: October 2025
  • Outlay: Rs 11,440 crore (2025-26 to 2030-31)
  • Target crops: Tur (Arhar), Urad, Masoor
  • Area expansion: +35 lakh hectares → total 310 lakh hectares
  • Production target: 350 lakh tonnes by 2030-31
  • Current production (2024-25): 252.38 lakh tonnes (up from 192.6 MT in 2013-14 — 31% rise)
  • Imports (2023-24): 47.38 lakh tonnes
  • Assured procurement: 100% at MSP for 4 years via NAFED + NCCF under PM-AASHA
  • Farmer support: Seed kits + Rs 10,000/hectare for model farming
  • Pulse mills: 1,000 (55 in MP); subsidy: Rs 25 lakh/mill

SATHI Portal:

  • Full form: Seed Authentication, Traceability & Holistic Inventory
  • Function: Automated seed life-cycle management; quality traceability

Pulses — Key Agricultural Data:

  • India’s global position: Largest producer AND consumer (~25% of global production)
  • Share in India’s foodgrain: fell from 16% (1950) to ~8% (2022-23)
  • Protein contribution: 20–25% of Indian dietary protein intake
  • ICMR recommended intake: 85 g/person/day
  • Agroclimatic needs: Temp 20–27°C, rainfall 25–60 cm, sandy-loamy soil
  • Botanical family: Leguminosae/Fabaceae (Legumes)
  • Nitrogen fixation: via Rhizobium bacteria in root nodules

Leading Pulse-Producing States:

  • Madhya Pradesh (largest), Maharashtra, Rajasthan, UP, Gujarat, Karnataka

Procurement Agencies under PM-AASHA:

  • NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India)
  • NCCF (National Cooperative Exports Limited)

Related Schemes:

  • PM-AASHA (PM Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan): Price support for oilseeds and pulses
  • NFSM-Pulses (National Food Security Mission)
  • Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
  • National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)

Sources: Drishti IAS, Next IAS