Procurement at MSP under Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan

1. At a Glance

• PM-AASHA is an umbrella scheme (launched 2018) to ensure MSP realisation for farmers of pulses, oilseeds and copra through procurement and price-deficiency mechanisms [S1][S3].
• Procurement at MSP is triggered when market prices fall below notified MSP during peak harvest, executed by Central Nodal Agencies (NAFED, NCCF) on request of State/UT Govts [S1][S2].
• Continuation approved with ₹35,000 crore outlay for 15th Finance Commission cycle up to 2025-26; layered with the new Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025-26 to 2030-31) offering 100% procurement of Tur, Urad, Masur [S2][S3].
• High-frequency UPSC area straddling GS-III (agriculture, MSP, food security) and current affairs of 2025-26.

2. Why in the News

• PIB release dated 27 March 2026 by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare reaffirmed that PSS under PM-AASHA continues to procure Tur, Urad, Masur as much as offered by pre-registered farmers via Central Nodal Agencies under the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses till 2030-31 [S1].
• Union Cabinet on 1 October 2025 approved the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses with ₹11,440 crore outlay [S3].

3. Background & Evolution

• 2018: Cabinet approved umbrella PM-AASHA to plug gaps left by limited wheat/rice-centric procurement [S2].
• Sept 2024: Cabinet approved continuation of PM-AASHA through 15th FC cycle (up to 2025-26) with ₹35,000 cr total outgo; integrated PSS + PDPS + MIS + PSF [S2].
• Feb 2025 (Union Budget): Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses announced [S3].
• 1 Oct 2025: Cabinet formally approved the Mission (2025-26 to 2030-31) [S3].
• Mar 2026: Reiteration of PSS-led procurement of pulses under the Mission [S1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Parent ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare; Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) [S1].
• Components of PM-AASHA:
• PSS (Price Support Scheme) – physical procurement of pulses, oilseeds, copra at MSP [S1][S2].
• PDPS (Price Deficiency Payment Scheme) – direct payment of MSP-market price gap, capped at 15% of MSP; coverage expanded from 25% to 40% of State production of an oilseed [S2].
• MIS (Market Intervention Scheme) – for perishables like tomato, onion, potato [S2].
• PSF (Price Stabilisation Fund) – buffer stocks of pulses & onion to shield consumers [S2].
• Quality norm: Fair Average Quality (FAQ) [S1].
• Central Nodal Agencies: NAFED and NCCF [S1][S3].
• Total outlay (PM-AASHA continuation): ₹35,000 crore up to 2025-26 [S2].
• Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses outlay: ₹11,440 crore (2025-26 to 2030-31); targets 310 lakh ha area, 350 lakh tonnes production, 1130 kg/ha yield by 2030-31 [S3].
• Pulses covered for 100% procurement: Tur (Arhar), Urad, Masur [S1][S3].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - Insulates pulses/oilseeds farmers from price crashes; reduces import dependency in pulses and edible oils, conserving forex [S3]. - Removes the 25% production cap that earlier limited Tur/Urad/Masur procurement, raising effective MSP coverage [S1][S3].

Administrative - Demand-driven model: scheme operates only on State/UT request and limited to pre-registered farmers within a stipulated period of peak harvest [S1]. - Federal cooperative federalism: state must sponsor procurement, central agencies execute [S1].

Social / Equity - Direct income support to small/marginal pulse growers in rainfed tracts (MP, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan) [S3]. - Tackles middlemen exploitation via portal-based registration by NAFED/NCCF [S2].

Environmental - Incentivising pulses/oilseeds promotes crop diversification away from water-intensive paddy-wheat; pulses aid nitrogen fixation [S3].

Governance / Ethical - Transparency through e-Samridhi (NAFED) and e-Samyukti (NCCF) registration portals [S2]. - PDPS reduces fiscal & logistic burden vis-à-vis physical procurement [S2].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 27 Mar 2026: PIB reaffirmation – Tur, Urad, Masur procured as much as offered under Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses till 2030-31 [S1].
• 1 Oct 2025: Cabinet approval of Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, ₹11,440 cr [S3].
• 2025-26 Union Budget: Mission announced by Finance Minister [S3].
• Sept 2024: Continuation of PM-AASHA till 2025-26 with ₹35,000 cr [S2].
• Approval of summer Moong procurement in Haryana, UP, Gujarat and groundnut in UP for 2025-26 season under PSS [S2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• PM-AASHA launched in 2018 as umbrella MSP scheme [S2].
• Four components: PSS, PDPS, MIS, PSF [S2].
• Implementing ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare (not Consumer Affairs) [S1].
• Central nodal agencies for pulse procurement: NAFED and NCCF [S1][S3].
• Quality benchmark for procurement: Fair Average Quality (FAQ) [S1].
• PDPS pays max 15% of MSP as price gap [S2].
• PDPS coverage raised from 25% → 40% of State oilseed production [S2].
• MIS covers perishables – tomato, onion, potato [S2].
• PSF maintains buffer of pulses & onion [S2].
• PM-AASHA continuation outlay: ₹35,000 crore (up to 2025-26) [S2].
• Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses: ₹11,440 crore, 2025-26 to 2030-31 [S3].
• Mission approved by Union Cabinet on 1 October 2025 [S3].
• Mission target by 2030-31: 350 lakh tonnes production, 310 lakh ha area, 1130 kg/ha yield [S3].
• 100% procurement guaranteed for Tur, Urad, Masur under Mission [S1][S3].
• Procurement triggered only when market price < MSP during peak harvest, on State/UT request, for pre-registered farmers [S1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Agriculture – Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System – objectives, functioning, limitations; Food Security.
• GS-II: Government policies & interventions for development; welfare schemes.
• Sample stems: 1. "Critically examine how PM-AASHA addresses the limitations of MSP procurement confined to wheat and paddy." 2. "Discuss the role of the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025-26 to 2030-31) in reducing India's pulses import dependence." [S3] 3. "Compare PSS and PDPS as instruments of price support; which is fiscally more sustainable?" [S2]

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• CACP & MSP fixation – upstream price determination basis.
• Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025-26) – the new procurement umbrella [S3].
• National Food Security Act, 2013 – complementary entitlements.
• NAFED & NCCF – institutional mechanics of procurement [S1].
• PMFBY (Crop Insurance) – paired farmer income protection.
• Operation Greens / TOP scheme – perishables analogue to MIS.
• eNAM – marketing-side reform to reduce MSP dependence.
• Shanta Kumar Committee 2015 – FCI/procurement reform recommendations.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Wrong ministry: PM-AASHA is under Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, NOT Consumer Affairs (which runs PSF for retail).
• Confusing PSS (physical procurement) with PDPS (cash transfer of price gap) [S2].
• Assuming wheat/rice fall under PM-AASHA – they don't; PM-AASHA covers pulses, oilseeds, copra only [S1].
• Mixing Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (₹11,440 cr, 2025-26→2030-31) with PM-AASHA continuation (₹35,000 cr, up to 2025-26) [S2][S3].
• Forgetting the 15% MSP cap under PDPS and the 25%→40% coverage expansion [S2].

11. Sources

• [S1] Procurement at MSP under PM-AASHA, PIB, 27 Mar 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2246181 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] Cabinet approves continuation of schemes of PM-AASHA, PIB — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2055990 — (tier: 1)
• [S3] Union Cabinet Approves 'Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses' with ₹11,440 Crore Outlay, PIB — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2241411 — (tier: 1)