Govt has no plans to reduce import duties on pulses for now: Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare
Higher kharif acreage and adequate global supplies underpin the government’s stance, even as retail prices of major pulses rise by up to 12.7% year-on-year.
The government of India has no immediate plans to reduce import duties on pulses, according to Nidhi Khare, secretary of the consumer affairs ministry. This decision comes as prices of major pulses increase and concerns about domestic production rise due to uneven monsoon rainfall. Instead of lowering duties, the government is relying on the upcoming kharif crop and existing buffer stocks to manage price pressures.
India currently levies a 10% import duty on lentils and chickpeas, while yellow peas attract a 30% duty. Imports of pigeon pea and black gram are allowed under the free category until March 31, 2027. In fiscal year 2026, India imported 5.96 million tonnes of pulses, which is nearly 18% less than the previous year. However, imports rose 62% year-on-year to 1.71 million tonnes in April-July 2027.
Retail inflation in India accelerated to 5.54% in September, while food inflation rose to 7.74%. Pulses are contributing to household food costs, accounting for 32.3% of overall retail inflation during April-December 2024. The area under kharif pulses reached 12.24 million hectares as of October 2, which is close to the normal area of 12.36 million hectares.
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