Union Cabinet Approves ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’ with ₹11,440 Crore Outlay to Achieve Self-Sufficiency by 2030-31

1. At a Glance

• Centrally Sponsored Scheme approved by Union Cabinet on 1 October 2025 to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses by 2030-31, with ₹11,440 crore outlay over six years (2025-26 to 2030-31). [S1][S2]
• Targets Tur (Arhar), Urad and Masoor — the three pulses where India's import dependence is highest. [S2]
• Operationalised by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; procurement backbone provided by NAFED and NCCF under PM-AASHA's Price Support Scheme. [S2]
• Relevant for GS-III (Agriculture, Food Security, MSP, Buffer Stocks) and Prelims (schemes, agencies). [S1]

2. Why in the News

• Union Cabinet's formal approval of the scheme on 1 October 2025; PIB release dated 17 March 2026 detailed phase-wise allocation of 528 of 1,000 processing units to States/UTs in the first phase. [S1]
• Backed by NITI Aayog's 2025 report "Strategies and Pathways for Accelerating Growth in Pulses towards the Goal of Atmanirbharta." [S2]

3. Background & Evolution

• India is the world's largest producer, consumer and importer of pulses; demand growth has outpaced production, causing a 15–20% rise in imports. [S2]
• Predecessors: National Food Security Mission (NFSM) – Pulses component; TMU (Technology Mission on Pulses); NAFED–NCCF tur procurement portal launched in 2024 by Min. of Cooperation. [S2]
• PM-AASHA (2018) — the umbrella price-support architecture under which procurement of Tur/Urad/Masoor is now extended to 100%. [S2]
• 1 Oct 2025 — Cabinet approves the new Mission; 17 March 2026 — phase-I targets for processing units released. [S1]

4. Core Static Facts

• Name: Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses. [S1]
• Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme. [S1]
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. [S1]
• Outlay: ₹11,440 crore. [S1]
• Duration: 2025-26 to 2030-31 (6 years). [S1]
• Target crops: Tur (Arhar), Urad, Masoor. [S2]
• Procurement agencies: NAFED & NCCF — 100% procurement for 4 years in participating states for registered farmers. [S2]
• Price mechanism: Price Support Scheme (PSS) of PM-AASHA. [S2]
• Area expansion target: +35 lakh hectares (rice-fallow + diversifiable lands). [S2]
• 2030-31 targets: Area 310 lakh ha; Production 350 lakh tonnes; Yield 1,130 kg/ha. [S2]
• Seed component: 126 lakh quintals certified seeds covering 370 lakh ha by 2030-31. [S2]
• Post-harvest: 1,000 processing units for mission period; 528 units allotted in Phase-I. [S1]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - Cuts forex outgo on pulse imports (India imports from Canada, Australia, Myanmar, Mozambique); stabilises retail prices of dal. [S2] - Assured 100% procurement via NAFED/NCCF de-risks farmer income for Tur/Urad/Masoor. [S2]

Agricultural / Scientific - Yield uplift from current ~900 kg/ha to 1,130 kg/ha via certified seed replacement, intercropping and rice-fallow utilisation. [S2] - Exploits rice-fallow belt of eastern India (Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, WB) — a long-standing NITI Aayog recommendation. [S2]

Environmental - Pulses are nitrogen-fixing legumes → reduce urea demand, improve soil health; align with sustainable agriculture goals. (inferred from scheme rationale [S2])

Federal / Administrative - Centrally Sponsored — States/UTs implement; Phase-I allotment of 528 processing units state-wise via Annexure-I of Cabinet note. [S1] - States must enter MoU with NAFED/NCCF for the 4-year 100% procurement guarantee. [S2]

Strategic / Food Security - Reduces dependence on a narrow set of supplier countries (Myanmar, Mozambique for tur; Canada/Australia for masoor) — buffers geopolitical supply shocks. [S2]

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 1 Oct 2025: Cabinet approval of the Mission. [S1]
• Oct 2025: NITI Aayog releases "Strategies and Pathways…" report on pulses Atmanirbharta. [S2]
• 17 Mar 2026: PIB release announces 528 processing units allotted to States/UTs in Phase-I. [S1]
• PM Modi's ₹35,440 crore combined agri-sector announcement (which subsumes this Mission). [S2]

7. Prelims Hooks

• Outlay of Mission = ₹11,440 crore. [S1]
• Duration: 2025-26 to 2030-31 (6 years). [S1]
• Approved by Union Cabinet on 1 October 2025. [S1]
• Pulses targeted under 100% procurement: Tur, Urad, Masoor (NOT chana or moong). [S2]
• Procurement agencies: NAFED and NCCF. [S2]
• Procurement under Price Support Scheme of PM-AASHA. [S2]
• 2030-31 production target: 350 lakh tonnes; area: 310 lakh ha; yield: 1,130 kg/ha. [S2]
• Additional area to be brought under pulses: 35 lakh hectares (rice-fallow focus). [S2]
• Certified seed distribution target: 126 lakh quintals. [S2]
• Total processing units approved: 1,000; Phase-I allotment: 528 units. [S1]
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (not Ministry of Consumer Affairs/Cooperation). [S1]
• India is the world's largest producer, consumer and importer of pulses. [S2]
• Procurement guarantee period: 4 years for registered farmers. [S2]

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III — Agriculture; Issues of buffer stocks and food security; MSP, PDS, technology missions; Cropping patterns.
• GS-II — Government schemes for vulnerable sections (small/marginal pulse farmers); Centre-State relations in CSS.
• Plausible question stems: 1. "Despite being the world's largest producer of pulses, India remains the largest importer. Examine the structural reasons and evaluate the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025) as a corrective intervention." 2. "Discuss how utilisation of rice-fallow areas and assured procurement under PM-AASHA can transform pulse productivity in India." 3. "Critically analyse the role of NAFED and NCCF in stabilising prices of pulses for both farmers and consumers."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• PM-AASHA (2018) — umbrella scheme containing PSS, PDPS, PPSS. [S2]
• NFSM — predecessor for pulse promotion.
• NAFED & NCCF — cooperative procurement agencies under Min. of Cooperation.
• MSP and CACP — pricing framework for Tur/Urad/Masoor.
• Rice-fallow areas — NITI Aayog cropping diversification strategy.
• Edible Oil Mission (NMEO-Oilseeds & Oil Palm) — parallel Atmanirbharta drive.
• Buffer Stock & Price Stabilisation Fund — Dept. of Consumer Affairs.
• WTO & AoA — implications of domestic support, peace clause for pulses.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Wrong ministry: It is Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, not Cooperation or Consumer Affairs (though NAFED/NCCF sit under Cooperation). [S1]
• Wrong crop coverage: 100% procurement covers only Tur, Urad, Masoor — NOT moong, chana, or all pulses. [S2]
• Wrong scheme type: It is Centrally Sponsored, not Central Sector. [S1]
• Confusing it with NFSM-Pulses or earlier TMU; this is a fresh stand-alone Mission.
• Duration trap: 6 years (2025-26 to 2030-31), not 5; outlay ₹11,440 crore (not ₹35,440 crore — that is the combined agri-package). [S1][S2]

11. Sources

• [S1] Union Cabinet Approves 'Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses' with ₹11,440 Crore Outlay — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2241411 — (tier 1)
• [S2] India's Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (PIB feature) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2177847 — (tier 1)