• Pulses are edible seeds of leguminous plants, harvested for their dry grains, and belong to the Leguminosae (Fabaceae) family. 
• Pulses are high in protein, fiber, and nutrients, low in fat, and have a long shelf life when dried. 
• Nitrogen Fixation: Pulses have the unique ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, restoring soil fertility. This makes them ideal for crop rotation and intercropping (especially with cereals).
• Climate: Requires a moderate temperature of 20°C–27°C.
• Rainfall: Low to moderate (25–60 cm). They are predominantly rain-fed (87% of the area) and sensitive to unseasonal rains/frost.
• Soil: Thrive in well-drained sandy-loamy soils.

Seasonal Classification

Pulses are grown in all three seasons in India, though Rabi pulses contribute over 60% of total production.

Production & Trade Dynamics

• India’s Global Standing: Largest Producer (~25%), largest Consumer (~27%), and largest Importer (~14%) of pulses in the world.
• Import Status: Despite record production (~25.7 million tonnes), India is a net importer due to high domestic demand.
  • Major Imports: Yellow Peas (largest share), Tur, and Masur.
  • Major Partners: Canada, Myanmar, Australia, and Mozambique.
• Consumption: Provides 20-25% of the total protein intake in Indian diets
• Top Producing States

1. Madhya Pradesh
2. Maharashtra
3. Rajasthan
4. Uttar Pradesh
5. Karnataka

• The area under pulses has seen a fluctuating but generally upward trend in the last decade, but still lags behind cereals like Rice and Wheat.
• Yield per hectare is lower in India compared to global standards (Canada/USA) due to cultivation in marginal/rain-fed lands.
• 2016 was declared the International Year of Pulses by the United Nations.

Government Initiatives & Schemes

• Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025): A centrally sponsored scheme (outlay ₹11,440 crore) aiming for self-sufficiency by 2030-31 (Target: 350 lakh tonnes). It focuses on boosting domestic production of Tur, Urad, and Masoor through high-yield seeds, area expansion, and cluster-based farming.
• Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA): Includes the Price Support Scheme (PSS) where the government procures pulses directly from farmers at MSP when price falls below MSP till prices stabilize at or above the MSP.
• Minimum Support Price (MSP): The Government of India currently mandates Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 5 major pulses to provide price assurance to farmers including Arhar / Tur (Pigeon Pea), Moong (Green Gram), Urad (Black Gram), Gram (Chana) and Masur (Lentil).
• Pulse Hubs: The ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), Kanpur, has established a network of “Seed Hubs” across India to enhance the production of quality seeds for high-yielding and climate-resilient pulse varieties.