Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses: Why Is It Important for India?

Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses: Objectives, Targets and Significance

Why in the News?

• The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, launched in October 2025, aims to reduce India’s dependence on imported pulses and increase domestic production.
• The six-year mission will run from 2025-26 to 2030-31 with a financial outlay of ₹11,440 crore.
• However, no research project had been approved against the allocated ₹500 crore research component during the first year. The Cabinet Secretariat has asked the Agriculture Ministry to speed up the approval process.

Key Features of the Mission

• The mission focuses on five major areas:
  • Development and wider availability of climate-resilient seeds.
  • Improvement in the protein content of pulses.
  • Increasing crop productivity.
  • Better post-harvest storage and management.
  • Ensuring remunerative prices for farmers.
• It aims to increase pulse production by 45%, from 242 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24 to 350 lakh metric tonnes by 2030-31.
• The area under pulses is targeted to rise by 13%, from 275 lakh hectares to 310 lakh hectares.
• Average yield is expected to increase by 28%, from 881 kg/hectare to 1,130 kg/hectare.

Focus on Three Major Pulses

• The mission gives special attention to tur (arhar), urad and masoor because of their large contribution to pulse production and the scope for improving their yields.
• Tur cultivation will be expanded mainly in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Jharkhand, along with parts of the Northeast.
• Urad cultivation will be promoted in rice-fallow areas of Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• Masoor will be promoted in rice-fallow areas of West Bengal, Bihar and Chhattisgarh.
• The mission also provides for 100% procurement of tur, masoor and urad through NAFED and NCCF under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) of PM-AASHA.

Why Does India Need More Pulses?

• India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of pulses, but domestic production does not fully meet demand.
• Therefore, India imports pulses from countries such as Myanmar, Mozambique, Tanzania, Australia and Canada.
• According to NITI Aayog projections, demand for pulses may reach 268 lakh metric tonnes by 2030 and 293 lakh metric tonnes by 2047.
• India’s average pulse yield remains lower than that of countries such as Canada and China, making productivity improvement important.

Production Scenario

• In 2023-24, Rajasthan had the largest area under pulse cultivation, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
• Madhya Pradesh was the largest pulse-producing state, followed by Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• Gram has the largest share in pulse cultivation and production, while moong, tur, urad and masoor are other major pulses.

World Pulses Day

• The United Nations observes World Pulses Day on 10 February every year through the FAO.
• It highlights the importance of pulses for nutrition, food security and sustainable agriculture.

Practice Question 

Q. With reference to the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, consider the following statements:

1. The mission seeks to increase pulse production primarily by expanding the area under cultivation, while productivity improvement is not among its stated targets. 
2. Under the mission, tur, urad and masoor are the three pulses receiving special attention. 
3. Rice-fallow areas are proposed to be utilised for expanding urad and masoor cultivation in selected states. 
4. The mission provides for 100% procurement of tur, urad and masoor through NAFED and NCCF under the Price Support Scheme of PM-AASHA.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1, 3 and 4 only

D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Answer: D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Explanation

• The mission aims to increase both the area under pulses and their average yield, with productivity targeted to rise from 881 kg/hectare to 1,130 kg/hectare. Hence, Statement 1 is Incorrect.
• The mission specifically focuses on tur, urad and masoor. Hence, Statement 2 is Correct.
• Rice-fallow areas in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra for urad, and West Bengal, Bihar and Chhattisgarh for masoor, are identified for expansion. Hence, Statement 3 is Correct.

NAFED and NCCF are envisaged to undertake 100% procurement of tur, urad and masoor under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) of PM-AASHA. Hence, Statement 4 is Correct.