Centre Approves Large-Scale Procurement of Pulses and Oilseeds Under PSS in Four States; Farmers to Benefit: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan

1. At a Glance

• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan approved large-scale MSP procurement of moong (green gram) under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Haryana on 18 June 2026 [S1].
• PSS is a sub-component of the umbrella scheme PM-AASHA (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan), the Centre's primary MSP-backed safety net for pulses, oilseeds and copra [S2][S3].
• Relevant for UPSC under Agriculture Marketing, MSP architecture, Food Security & Cooperative Federalism (GS-III).

2. Why in the News

• On 18 June 2026, the Centre approved state-wise PSS procurement targets: UP package > ₹1,490 crore; Gujarat 18,250 MT moong (MSP value > ₹160 crore); Tamil Nadu raised to 990 MT; Haryana 2,115 MT [S1].
• Approval granted via video conferencing by the Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development [S1].

3. Background & Evolution

• 2018 (Sept) — Union Cabinet approved PM-AASHA with three sub-schemes: PSS, Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS), Pilot of Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PPSS) [S3].
• PSS lineage — Operates under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; procurement executed by Central Nodal Agencies NAFED and NCCF via state-level agencies [S2].
• 2024 (Sept) — Cabinet approved continuation of PM-AASHA; merged Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) and Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) into the umbrella; raised government guarantee for pulses procurement from ₹45,000 crore to ₹60,000 crore [S2].
• 2024-25 onwards — Procurement ceiling under PSS raised to 25% of national production of notified pulses/oilseeds/copra (from earlier 25% of state production cap) [S2].

4. Core Static Facts

• Scheme: Price Support Scheme (PSS), sub-component of PM-AASHA [S2].
• Parent Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare [S1][S2].
• Implementing Agencies: NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation) and NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers' Federation) [S2].
• Notified commodities under PSS: Pulses, oilseeds, copra [S2].
• Procurement basis: Direct purchase at MSP from pre-registered farmers when mandi price falls below MSP [S2].
• Trigger crop in current news: Moong (green gram) — a kharif/summer pulse [S1].
• Procurement guarantee for pulses: ₹60,000 crore (post-Sept 2024) [S2].
• PSS coverage ceiling: 25% of national production of the notified crop [S2].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - Direct MSP transfer aims to insulate growers from price crashes during peak harvest [S2]. - UP package > ₹1,490 crore signals largest state-level intervention in the current tranche [S1].

Administrative / Federal - Centre approves; state-level cooperative agencies execute procurement — a model of cooperative federalism in marketing [S2]. - Targets are state-specific & quantity-capped, requiring annual approval cycles [S1].

Social - Targets small/marginal pulse growers in rainfed belts; mitigates distress sale [S2]. - Pulses are key for protein security; procurement supports both producer income and PDS/buffer stocking [S2].

Policy / Self-Sufficiency - Aligns with the Government's drive for Atmanirbharta in pulses & edible oils — India remains a net importer of both [S2]. - Higher procurement cap (25%) and ₹60,000 cr guarantee deepen MSP credibility [S2].

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• 18 June 2026 — Procurement approved for UP, Gujarat, TN, Haryana under PSS [S1].
• Sept 2024 — Cabinet continuation of PM-AASHA; PSF & MIS folded in; pulses guarantee raised to ₹60,000 cr [S2].
• Dec 2024 — PIB feature "Empowering Farmers Through PM-AASHA" reiterated 25% procurement ceiling [S2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• PSS is a sub-scheme of PM-AASHA, not a standalone scheme [S2].
• PM-AASHA was launched in 2018, announced in Union Budget 2018-19 [S3].
• Original PM-AASHA had three components: PSS, PDPS, PPSS [S3].
• Current PM-AASHA umbrella includes PSS, PDPS, MIS and PSF [S2].
• NAFED and NCCF are the Central Nodal Agencies for PSS procurement [S2].
• PSS covers pulses, oilseeds, copra — NOT cereals (cereals go via FCI under NFSA) [S2].
• Procurement ceiling under PSS = 25% of national production (from 2024-25) [S2].
• Government guarantee for pulses procurement = ₹60,000 crore (raised from ₹45,000 cr in 2024) [S2].
• The 18 June 2026 approval covered moong procurement in four states [S1].
• Gujarat moong procurement: 18,250 MT ; Haryana: 2,115 MT ; Tamil Nadu: 990 MT ; UP package: > ₹1,490 crore [S1].
• Approving authority: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare + Rural Development [S1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III — Issues of buffer stocks and food security; MSP; e-NAM; agricultural marketing.
• Possible question stems: 1. "PM-AASHA represents a shift from price-based to income-based support for farmers. Discuss." 2. "Evaluate the efficacy of the Price Support Scheme (PSS) in achieving Atmanirbharta in pulses and oilseeds." 3. "Examine the role of NAFED and NCCF in operationalising MSP for non-cereal crops."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• MSP regime & CACP — basis for the prices applied under PSS.
• NAFED & NCCF — institutional architecture of cooperative procurement.
• Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (MP) — state-level analogue of PDPS.
• National Food Security Mission (NFSM)–Pulses — production-side complement.
• Edible Oils Mission (NMEO-OP & NMEO-Oilseeds) — oilseed Atmanirbharta drive.
• PDS & Buffer Stocking of Pulses — procurement endpoint.
• WTO Peace Clause & MSP — trade-law dimension of support prices.
• Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) — sister scheme for perishables.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing PSS (pulses/oilseeds/copra, by NAFED/NCCF) with FCI procurement of wheat/rice under NFSA — different agencies and commodities.
• Treating PM-AASHA as a single scheme: it is an umbrella of multiple sub-schemes [S2][S3].
• Mixing up PDPS (price-deficiency cash transfer, no physical procurement) with PSS (physical procurement at MSP) [S3].
• Stating procurement ceiling as 25% of state production — current cap is 25% of national production [S2].
• Attributing PSS to Ministry of Consumer Affairs (PSF sits there for some commodities); PSS under PM-AASHA is administered by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare [S2].

11. Sources

• [S1] Centre Approves Large-Scale Procurement of Pulses and Oilseeds Under PSS in Four States — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2274919 — (tier 1)
• [S2] Cabinet approves continuation of schemes of PM-AASHA (Sept 2024) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2055990 — (tier 1)
• [S3] Cabinet approves New Umbrella Scheme PM-AASHA (2018) — https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1545775 — (tier 1)