Govt has no plans to reduce import duties on pulses for now: Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare

Import duties are taxes placed on goods brought into a country. For pulses, they make imported lentils, chickpeas, or yellow peas more expensive at the border. Governments commonly use such duties to regulate imports, collect revenue, and give domestic producers more room to compete. The article does not state the government’s original reason for each rate, but duties are a trade-policy tool.

India charges a 10% duty on lentils and chickpeas. Yellow peas carry a 30% duty. A duty becomes part of the importer’s cost and can affect the price at which pulses enter the market. Lower duties would generally make imports cheaper, while higher duties can discourage or limit them.

The government is keeping these duties unchanged despite rising retail prices. It is relying instead on the kharif crop, buffer stocks, and what it calls a clear import strategy. Whether that approach contains prices depends on harvest yields, weather, global supplies, and demand. Imports of tur and urad remain free until 31 March 2027.

India applies different import rules to different pulses. Lentils and chickpeas, also called chana, face a 10% import duty. Yellow peas face a higher 30% duty. These rates affect the cost and attractiveness of bringing those pulses into India.

Pigeon pea, commonly called tur, and black gram, or urad, are different. The article says their imports are allowed under the free category until 31 March 2027. In practical terms, they do not face the listed import duty during that period. This distinction matters because traders can respond differently across pulse markets.

The policy is being maintained while prices rise. The government says it has a clear import strategy and is relying on domestic crop prospects, buffer stocks, and adequate global supplies. India imported 5.96 million tonnes of pulses in FY26, then imported 1.71 million tonnes in April-July FY27, a 62% year-on-year increase for that period.

Retail prices of major pulses increased by as much as 12.7% over the past year. Tur rose from ₹115.31 to ₹129.96 a kilogram. Urad increased 9.3%, chana dal rose 5%, moong climbed 2.8%, and masoor increased 1.6%. These changes are adding pressure to household food costs.

India imported 5.96 million tonnes of pulses in FY26, nearly 18% less than the previous year. Imports then reached 1.71 million tonnes in April-July FY27. That was 62% higher than the same period a year earlier, showing that import flows strengthened even as retail prices remained elevated.

The figures point to a market balancing domestic availability, imports, and demand. Prices have not moved uniformly across pulses, with tur showing the sharpest increase among those listed. The government expects the kharif crop and buffer stocks to ease pressure, but final production still depends on yields and weather conditions.

The government is keeping import duties unchanged because it believes other supply sources can manage the pressure. Consumer affairs secretary Nidhi Khare said officials are following a clear import strategy and see no concern about a price rise. The approach depends on domestic production, existing stocks, and supplies available from exporting countries.

The main domestic support is the kharif crop. Pulse acreage reached 12.24 million hectares by 2 October, up from 11.98 million hectares a year earlier and close to the normal area of 12.36 million hectares. Buffer stocks can also release pulses when market availability tightens. Together, these tools may reduce the need for cheaper imports.

Still, retail prices have risen. Tur was up 12.7% and urad 9.3% over the year to 14 October. The strategy therefore faces a test: adequate yields, weather, and global supplies must offset price pressure. The government has not announced a duty cut for now.

If the kharif harvest is weak, fewer pulses would reach the market from domestic farms. A smaller supply, with demand continuing, could increase competition among buyers and lift wholesale and retail prices. The risk is especially important because the article already records increases across major pulses.

Weather is central to the outcome. Pulse acreage rose to 12.24 million hectares, but the agriculture ministry data says the final harvest will depend on yields and weather conditions. Uneven monsoon rainfall has already raised concerns about domestic production. If yields fall, acreage alone may not provide enough extra crop. Imports or buffer stocks could then become more important.

Higher pulse prices would add to household food expenses and overall food inflation. Retail food inflation rose to 7.74% in September from 5.97% in August. The Economic Survey said vegetables and pulses together accounted for 32.3% of overall retail inflation during April-December FY25, though it did not isolate pulses’ share.

Buffer stocks are stored supplies that can be used when market availability becomes tight. Releasing them can add pulses to the market without waiting for the next harvest. That extra supply may reduce sudden shortages and help moderate retail prices. The article identifies buffer stocks as one of the government’s tools.

Higher sowing works through the next crop. Pulse acreage reached 12.24 million hectares by 2 October, compared with 11.98 million hectares a year earlier. Urad acreage rose by 296,000 hectares, and tur sowing increased by 149,000 hectares. A larger planted area can support more output, provided yields and weather remain favourable.

These measures are not guarantees. Moong acreage fell by 117,000 hectares, and the final harvest still depends on weather and yields. The government is combining stocks and sowing with imports and global supplies. If those channels provide enough pulses, price pressure may ease; if not, households could continue facing higher costs.

Pulse prices reflect the balance between how much is available and how much buyers want. If domestic harvests are strong, supply can improve and price pressure may ease. If weather reduces yields while demand stays firm, available pulses become tighter and prices can rise. Retail prices also reflect costs along the route to consumers.

Imports provide another supply channel. India imported 5.96 million tonnes in FY26 and 1.71 million tonnes during April-July FY27. More imports can help fill a domestic gap, but import duties affect their cost. A 10% duty applies to lentils and chickpeas, while yellow peas face 30%. Tur and urad are currently in the free import category.

The government is balancing these forces rather than cutting duties. It expects the kharif crop, buffer stocks, and global supplies to contain prices. Yet acreage alone cannot guarantee supply: the final harvest depends on yields and weather. Retail prices will therefore depend on domestic output, import volumes, duties, and demand together.