Assess whether assured procurement under the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses can achieve self-reliance by 2030-31. What structural constraints remain?

The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses was announced in the 2025-26 Budget. It runs from 2025-26 to 2030-31 with ₹11,440 crore. By 2030-31 it aims for 350 lakh tonnes of pulses from 310 lakh ha, at a yield of 1,130 kg/ha [1]. Its main tool is assured procurement. This can bring self-reliance in some pulses, but it cannot do the whole job alone.

How assured procurement moves India towards self-reliance

• Price certainty: NAFED and NCCF will buy 100% of tur, urad and masoor under PM-AASHA in participating states for four years [1]. This lowers the risk for farmers who move away from rice and wheat.
• Scale in practice: The sanction for Kharif Marketing Season 2026-27 includes 4.66 lakh MT of tur in Uttar Pradesh. Tur alone is about 71% of the ₹5,547.99 crore approved [2].
• Track record: Since 2018-19, about 195.39 LMT of pulses, oilseeds and copra has been bought at MSP [3].
• Import substitution: India still imports 2–3 million tonnes of pulses a year [5]. Stock bought at home can replace some of this and supply buffer stocks.

Structural constraints that remain

• Partial crop coverage: Moong and gram are outside the 100% promise. For these crops, procurement is still capped at 25% of state production [1][4].
• Federal trigger: The Price Support Scheme runs only when a State/UT asks for it [3]. If a state asks late or not at all, its farmers sell below MSP.
• Yield gap: Reaching 1,130 kg/ha [1] needs better seeds, irrigation and extension services on small, rainfed farms. Procurement cannot raise yields.
• Time mismatch: The procurement guarantee lasts four years, but the Mission lasts six [1]. Farmers may hold back from a lasting switch.
• Import exposure: Cheap imports leave farmers exposed to swings in world prices [5]. This weakens the price signal.
• Storage burden: Unlimited buying adds to the storage and disposal load on NAFED and NCCF.

Overall, assured procurement is necessary but not sufficient. It can bring self-reliance in tur, urad and masoor, but not across all pulses by 2030-31. Several steps would help:

• Extend price-gap (deficiency) payments to moong and gram.
• Keep import policy in line with the Mission.
• Invest in seeds and irrigation.
• Expand PM-AASHA procurement, as the Parliamentary Standing Committee recommended [5].

Together, these would secure protein, advance SDG 2, and make farming more climate-resilient.