➔ Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025–26 to 2030–31) Self-Sufficiency, Value Chains & Agrarian Resilience (UPSC/RAS/PSI) Current Affairs {Economy}

Vital Protein-Rich Food Security- Pulses serve as a crucial, affordable protein source in Indian diets, containing 20% to 25% protein, which is more than double the protein content of wheat and nearly triple that of rice.
Decadal Production Growth- Domestic pulse output expanded from 256.83 lakh tonnes in 2024–25 to 274.09 lakh tonnes in 2025–26 (according to the 3rd Advance Estimates).
Cultivation Area Expansion- Total national pulse cultivation area experienced a measurable rise, expanding from 277.20 lakh hectares in 2024–25 to 286.46 lakh hectares in 2025–26.
Productivity & Yield Improvements- Average national pulse productivity registered an upward trend, increasing from 926 kg per hectare in 2024–25 to 957 kg per hectare in 2025–26.
Core Cultivation Geographies- Production is concentrated across 10 major agricultural States- Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal.
Conserving Foreign Exchange- Expanded domestic output directly reduced import vulnerability, resulting in a 31.52% decline in import expenditure from ₹46,427.60 crore in 2024–25 to ₹31,793.59 crore in 2025–26.

Mission Launch & Financial Outlay- The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses was launched on October 11, 2025, backed by a comprehensive financial allocation of ₹11,440 crore spanning six years (2025–26 to 2030–31).
Long-Term Production Goal- The mission aims to scale national pulse production to nearly 350 lakh tonnes by the terminal year of FY 2030–31.
Yield & Productivity Benchmark- Targeted structural interventions seek to elevate national average pulse yield to 1,130 kg per hectare by 2030–31.
Targeted Core Crops- Strategic focus is concentrated on three high-deficit pulses experiencing heavy import dependency- Tur (Arhar), Urad (Blackgram), and Masoor (Lentil).
Acreage Extension Strategy- Plans to add 35 lakh hectares of new land utilizing rice-fallows and intercropping to reach a cumulative targeted cultivation area of 310 lakh hectares.
Cluster-Based Execution Model- Intensified production support is organized across 489 designated districts nationwide to streamline extension services, micro-nutrients, and plant protection.

Extensive Seed Distribution Targets- The mission mandates the distribution of 87.5 lakh free seed kitsand 126 lakh quintals of certified seeds over its six-year operational timeline.
Rice-Fallow Seed Distribution- To utilize moisture-rich post-paddy fallows during the Rabi season, 9.25 lakh free seed kits were distributed during Rabi 2025–26.
Krishi Mapper Geospatial Integration- Leverages the Krishi Mapper application for farm-level geo-fencing, land geo-tagging, and real-time monitoring of varietal field demonstrations.
SATHI Portal Traceability- The Seed Authentication, Traceability & Holistic Inventory (SATHI) portal automates the entire seed supply chain, tracking certified seeds from breeder production to retail sale.
AgriStack & Digital Crop Survey- Integrates unified Farmer IDs with Soil Health Card data and verified plot-level surveys to deliver targeted soil nutrition (zinc, sulfur, phosphorus).
High-Yielding Variety Adoption- Prioritizes the dissemination of short-duration, pest-resistant, and climate-resilient seed varieties bred to withstand changing weather aberrations.

Substantial MSP Upward Revisions- Minimum Support Prices for target pulses saw strong increases between 2024–25 and 2026–27 (e.g., Tur increased by 11.92% to ₹8,450/quintal; Urad increased by 10.81% to ₹8,200/quintal).
Four-Year Assured Procurement Compact- Central agencies NCCF and NAFED are authorized to execute 100% assured procurement of Tur, Masoor, and Urad for four consecutive years (2025–26 to 2028–29).
Scaling National Procurement Volumes- Total national pulse procurement expanded sharply from 18,39,504 tonnes in 2024–25 to 31,40,884 tonnes in 2025–26 under direct government channels.
Direct MSP Fund Disbursal (NCCF Dashboard)- Achieved total pulse procurement of 10.55 lakh tonnes across 9 states, releasing ₹7,047 crore directly to the bank accounts of 4.69 lakh beneficiary farmers.
Seasonal Procurement Scaling- Kharif 2025–26 recorded 7.89 lakh tonnes procured (₹6,431 crore), while Rabi 2026–27 scaled up to 23.51 lakh tonnes procured (₹14,217 crore released to 10.20 lakh farmers).
Export Market Expansion- Alongside domestic self-sufficiency, pulse exports rose by 13.40% to reach USD 969.53 million (10.01 lakh tonnes) in 2025–26, shipped primarily to China, UAE, Bangladesh, USA, and Sri Lanka.

The 1,000 Dal Mill Mandate- Envisions the establishment of 1,000 decentralized pulse processing units (dal mills) across production catchments to reduce transportation costs and post-harvest losses.
Phase-I State Allocations- Formally allocated 528 pulse processing units to various States and Union Territories in the initial rollout phase.
PMKSY Scheme Convergence- Capitalizing on synergies with the Creation and Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC) under PMKSY, numerous processing units have been sanctioned.
Operational Infrastructure Completion- Out of approved infrastructure projects, 18 specialized pulse processing units have achieved full physical and commercial completion.
Empowering Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)- Localized processing enables FPOs and rural cooperatives to undertake cleaning, grading, and splitting, capturing higher profit margins locally.
Reduction of Storage Losses- Processing pulses close to farm gates minimizes bulk transit friction and protects harvested grain from pest infestations and moisture damage.

Symbiotic Soil Nitrification- As leguminous crops, pulses fix atmospheric nitrogen symbiotically via root nodules, naturally enriching soil fertility and reducing synthetic urea fertilizer requirements for succeeding crops.
Promoting Crop Diversification- Guaranteed procurement at remunerative MSPs provides economic security, incentivizing farmers in northwest India to diversify away from water-intensive paddy-wheat monocultures.
Dryland Agrarian Resilience- Pulses are naturally hardy, drought-tolerant crops ideally suited for rainfed dryland farming systems, which comprise nearly half of India's net sown area.
Insulating Against Global Price Shocks- Heavy reliance on pulse imports from nations like Canada, Myanmar, and Australia exposes domestic retail inflation to international supply shocks; self-reliance insulates the economy.
Enhancing Rural Livelihoods & Incomes- Combining higher minimum support prices, free seed distribution, and local value-addition bolsters disposable incomes for smallholder and marginal farmers.
Alignment with Nutritional Public Health- Combines with national nutrition missions to ensure long-term dietary protein security, directly addressing chronic micronutrient deficiencies and child stunting.