- Why in news
- On 11 October 2026, the first anniversary of the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, PIB issued a backgrounder on its progress, with output, import and procurement data.
- What it is
- Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses is a six-year scheme (2025-26 to 2030-31) to make India self-sufficient in pulses. It takes a value-chain approach: seeds, area expansion, processing, assured procurement and digital monitoring. It focuses on Tur, Urad and Masoor.
- Procurement agencies
- NCCF and NAFED are authorised to procure 100% of Tur, Masur and Urad for four years, 2025-26 to 2028-29.
- Digital tools
- Krishi Mapper does geo-tagging and tracking of demonstrations. SATHI tracks the seed life cycle. A three-tier Steering Committee monitors the Mission.
- Approval and outlay
- Cabinet approved the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on 1 October 2025, with Rs 11,440 crore over 2025-26 to 2030-31.
- Focus districts
- 489 districts are identified as focus districts for clusters. The list may be modified later.
- Area expansion
- Pulses area is projected to expand by 35 lakh hectares by 2030-31: 24.5 lakh ha in traditional areas and 10.5 lakh ha in non-traditional areas.
- Focus pulses
- The mission gives special focus to Tur, Urad and Masoor.
- PMKSY projects
- 23 pulse processing units were approved under CEFPPC of PMKSY, and 18 are completed.
Don’t confuse with NAFED vs NCCF: Both are national cooperative marketing bodies and both procure pulses under the Mission. NAFED is the apex agricultural marketing cooperative; NCCF is the consumers' cooperative federation.
Don’t confuse with Mission vs PM-AASHA: PM-AASHA is a broad price-support umbrella for pulses, oilseeds and copra. This Mission is a dedicated six-year pulses scheme with seeds, processing and procurement.
Don’t confuse with Centrally Sponsored vs Central Sector scheme: In a Centrally Sponsored Scheme the Centre and States share the cost. A Central Sector scheme is fully funded by the Centre.
Don’t confuse with PM-AASHA vs PM-KISAN: PM-AASHA protects farmers' income through procurement, including the Price Support Scheme. PM-KISAN gives direct income support of Rs 6,000 a year.
Don’t confuse with Mission vs PMKSY: The pulses mission is a crop-focused scheme of the Agriculture Ministry. PMKSY (Kisan SAMPADA) is a food processing scheme under a separate ministry.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Cuts import dependence and saves foreign exchange; pulses imports fell 31.52% in 2025-26.
- Strengthens protein and nutritional security, as pulses have 20-25% protein.
- Assured procurement at MSP raises farmer confidence and income.
- Reduces dependence on pulse imports and saves foreign exchange.
- Raises farmer incomes and nutrition security, and brings rice fallows under pulses.
- Aims to cut pulse imports and improve self-sufficiency in a major protein source.
- Assured procurement can encourage farmers to shift to pulses.
Problems
- Yield of 957 kg/ha in 2025-26 is well below the 1,130 kg/ha target; closing the gap needs better seed and climate-resilient varieties.
- Only 4.69 lakh of 7.74 lakh registered farmers have been benefited by NCCF procurement, so reach is partial.
- Pulses are mostly rainfed and prone to weather and price swings.
- Yield stagnation and weather risk in rain-fed pulse areas.
- Price volatility and weak assured procurement can discourage farmers.
- Yield of pulses remains low and rain-dependent, with price risk for farmers.
- Procurement and storage capacity are limited in many states.
Way forward
- Speed up seed kit distribution and certified seed supply for rice fallows.
- Complete processing units and extend procurement beyond the four-year window.
- Use AgriStack and digital surveys to target inputs and registration.
- Promote high-yielding, climate-resilient seed varieties and timely seed supply.
- Ensure assured procurement at MSP and build post-harvest processing capacity.
- Promote climate-resilient, high-yielding seeds and wider adoption.
- Strengthen storage, processing and timely procurement.
Put in your answer
Mission outlay and duration: Rs 11,440 crore over six years, 2025-26 to 2030-31, aiming at self-sufficiency in pulses.
Area expansion target: Pulses area is to rise by 35 lakh hectares by 2030-31.
Mission outlay: Rs 11,440 crore over 2025-26 to 2030-31 for pulses self-sufficiency.
Farmer registration: 1.5 lakh pulse farmers registered through NAFED and NCCF in Rabi 2026-27 procurement season.
- 2017Mains GS1 · Q7What advantages of pulses cultivation led to the 2016 International Year of Pulses?
- 2026Mains GS3 · Q3Technology Missions in Indian agriculture and their role in food security
- 2018Mains GS3 · Q13Assess National Horticulture Mission's role in boosting horticulture production and farmer income
- 2021Mains GS3 · Q14What challenges face crop diversification, and how can emerging technologies help?
- 2026Mains GS3 · Q13How agriculture moved from food scarcity to surplus, and which diversification policies helped?
- 2020Prelims Q69Whether MSP procurement is unlimited for cereals, pulses and oilseeds, and whether MSP stays above market price
- 2020Prelims Q86Which statements on pulse production in India are correct, covering kharif and rabi crops?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.Under the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, NCCF and NAFED are authorised to procure Tur, Urad and Masur for all six years of the Mission.
- 2.The Mission targets a total pulses cultivation area of 310 lakh hectares by 2030-31.
- 3.The SATHI portal tracks the seed life cycle, from seed production to certification and seed sale.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 18
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses runs for six years from 2025-26 to 2030-31.
True. Six-year span, 2025-26 to 2030-31, outlay ₹11,440 crore.
2.The Mission targets pulses production of nearly 350 lakh tonnes by 2030-31.
True. Target is nearly 350 lakh tonnes with yield of 1,130 kg per hectare.
3.Under the Mission, assured procurement of Tur, Urad and Masoor is done by NCCF and NAFED for the full six years of the Mission.
False. Procurement authorisation is for four years, 2025-26 to 2028-29.
4.The Mission aims to set up 1,000 pulse processing units.
True. 1,000 processing (dal mill) units are planned, 528 allocated in the first phase.
5.The SATHI portal covers the seed life cycle from seed production to certification and sale.
True. SATHI = Seed Authentication, Traceability & Holistic Inventory.
6.The Minimum Support Price for pulses is announced by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices after approval by the Parliament.
False. CACP recommends MSP; the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approves it, not Parliament.
7.The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
True. The release describes it as a centrally sponsored scheme.
8.Its financial outlay is Rs 11,440 crore.
True. The outlay is Rs 11,440 crore.
9.The Mission approves 1,000 processing units for the mission period.
True. 1,000 processing units are approved, with 528 allotted in the first phase.
10.Under the Mission, seed kits are supplied to farmers at subsidised prices.
False. Seed kits are distributed free.
11.Seed kits under the Mission target rice fallow areas and other diversifiable areas.
True. Free seed kits aim to raise area and production in rice fallow and other diversifiable areas.
12.The list of 489 focus districts under the Mission is fixed and cannot be changed during the mission period.
False. The identified districts may be modified in future based on local requirement and changing context.
13.Most of the projected 35 lakh hectare area expansion is in non-traditional areas.
False. 24.5 lakh ha is in traditional areas and 10.5 lakh ha in non-traditional areas.
14.The Mission runs for five years from 2025-26.
False. It runs for six years, 2025-26 to 2030-31.
15.The Mission gives special focus to Tur, Urad and Masoor.
True. Tur, Urad and Masoor are the focus pulses.
16.Procurement support under the Mission follows Price Support Scheme norms under PM-AASHA.
True. Procurement follows PSS norms under PM-AASHA.
17.Procurement of Tur, Urad and Masoor is limited to a fixed quantity per farmer under the Mission.
False. CNAs procure as much as registered farmers offer.
18.NAFED and NCCF are the Central Nodal Agencies for pulses procurement.
True. NAFED and NCCF are the CNAs.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Mains practice
15 marks · 250 words
The first anniversary of the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses has brought data on rising output, falling imports and higher procurement. Discuss the provisions of the Mission and examine the challenges in achieving self-sufficiency in pulses by 2030-31.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.