NITI Aayog releases roadmap for self-reliance in pulses
NITI Aayog released a report on 'Strategies and Pathways for Accelerating Growth in Pulses towards the Goal of Atmanirbharta' on 4 September 2025, projecting domestic pulse supply could reach 48.44 MT by 2030 with focused interventions.
Summary
NITI Aayog Member Prof. Ramesh Chand released the report 'Strategies and Pathways for Accelerating Growth in Pulses towards the Goal of Atmanirbharta' on 4 September 2025. India is the world's largest producer and consumer of pulses; about 80% of production depends on rainfed areas, supporting over 5 crore farmers and their families. After production fell to 16.35 million tonnes in 2015–16, requiring 6 MT of imports, output rose 59.4% to 26.06 MT by 2022–23, cutting import dependence from 29% to 10.4%. The report projects domestic supply of 30.59 MT by 2030 and 45.79 MT by 2047 on current trends, and says focused strategies could add about 20.10 MT, taking supply to 48.44 MT by 2030 and 63.64 MT by 2047. It recommends horizontal expansion (such as using rice fallow land) and vertical expansion (higher yields). The Union Budget 2025–26 announced a six-year Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses.
Key facts
- Released
- 4 Sep 2025 by Prof. Ramesh Chand, NITI Aayog
- India's status
- World's largest producer and consumer of pulses
- Trend
- 16.35 MT (2015–16) → 26.06 MT (2022–23), +59.4%
- Import dependence
- 29% → 10.4%
- Projection (business as usual)
- 30.59 MT by 2030; 45.79 MT by 2047
- With strategies
- 48.44 MT by 2030; 63.64 MT by 2047
- Related mission
- Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses (Budget 2025–26, six years)
Practice MCQs 3 questions
According to NITI Aayog's pulses report of September 2025, India's import dependence on pulses fell from 29% in 2015–16 to what level by 2022–23?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 10.4%
Production rose 59.4% to 26.06 MT by 2022–23, reducing import dependence from 29% to 10.4%.
NITI Aayog's report on pulses (September 2025) recommends 'horizontal expansion'. This refers to:
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Increasing area under pulses, e.g. by using rice fallow lands
Horizontal expansion aims to increase area under pulses by using untapped land such as rice fallows and intercropping; vertical expansion focuses on yields.
Consider the following statements based on NITI Aayog's pulses report of September 2025: 1. About 80% of India's pulse production depends on rainfed areas. 2. With focused strategies, domestic pulse supply could reach 48.44 MT by 2030. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
The report says nearly 80% of production depends on rainfed areas, and that focused strategies could take supply to 48.44 MT by 2030. Both statements are correct.