"Government Reviews One Year of Pulses Self-Reliance Mission"
Seed Replacement Rate (SRR)
share of farmers using fresh certified seed instead of farm-saved seed each season
Minimum Support Price (MSP)
the guaranteed price government pays farmers for a crop regardless of market price
India is the world's largest producer of pulses. Pulses are a crop that is central to nutrition and farm incomes. Pulses contain 20-25% protein. This is more than double the protein in wheat. It is nearly three times the protein in rice. So pulses are vital for food and nutritional security. India is the top producer, but it has long depended on imports. This is because India cannot meet all domestic demand. The gap is caused partly by low productivity and inconsistent seed supply.
One real constraint behind this gap is the low Seed Replacement Rate (SRR). This means the share of farmers who use fresh certified seed instead of farm-saved seed each season. For low-value, high-volume crops like pulses, there is historically a demand-supply gap in quality seeds. Private seed companies find such crops less profitable than cash crops. This has kept pulses yields stagnant for decades compared to cereals.
Among major pulses, Tur (pigeon pea) and Urad (black gram) are mainly kharif (monsoon-season) crops. Masoor (lentil) is a rabi (winter-season) crop grown with minimal irrigation. To address the productivity and import-dependence problem, the government launched the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses on 11 October 2025. It is backed by a financial allocation of ₹11,440 crore. This money is spread over 2025-26 to 2030-31.
Black gram (Urad) can be cultivated in both kharif and rabi seasons. Tur is primarily kharif. Green gram (Moong) does not account for nearly half of pulse production in India.
The Mission aims to make India self-reliant in pulses by 2030-31. It targets production of nearly 350 lakh tonnes. It targets productivity of 1,130 kg per hectare. These are up from current levels. It focuses specifically on Tur, Urad and Masoor. These are the three pulses India imports the most. To fix the seed-supply constraint identified above, the Mission plans to distribute 87.5 lakh free seed kits. It also plans to distribute 126 lakh quintals of certified seeds over six years. This directly tackles the low Seed Replacement Rate problem.
The Mission uses a cluster-based approach covering 489 districts. Production support, seed quality, processing and marketing are integrated for each cluster. …
With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements:
1.Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crop.
2.Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production.
3.In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production of rabi pulses has decreased.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
In the context of food and nutritional security of India, enhancing the 'Seed Replacement Rates' of various crops helps in achieving the food production targets of the future. But what is/are the constraint/constraints in its wider/greater implementation?
1.There is no National Seeds Policy in place.
2.There is no participation of private sector seed companies in the supply of quality seeds of vegetables and planting materials of horticultural crops.
3.There is a demand-supply gap regarding quality seeds in case of low value and high volume crops.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Elaborate the scope and significance of supply chain management of agricultural commodities in India.
Consider the following statements regarding the 'Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses':
1.It was launched with a financial outlay spanning the period 2025-26 to 2030-31.
2.It focuses specifically on Tur, Urad and Masoor among pulse crops.
3.It aims to reduce India's pulses cultivation area to improve productivity per hectare.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Match List-I (Pulse crop) with List-II (Predominant cropping season) and select the correct answer using the code given below:
List-I:
A.Tur (Arhar)
B.Urad
C.Masoor
List-II:
1.Rabi
2.Kharif
3.Both kharif and rabi
Under the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, NCCF and NAFED have been authorised to procure what share of Tur, Urad and Masoor from registered farmers, and for how long?
Consider the following statements regarding the cluster-based approach under the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses:
1.It covers 489 districts to intensify pulses production.
2.It integrates seed supply, processing and procurement within each cluster.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the following statements about the nutritional value of pulses is correct?
Want the full note, Prelims Facts & MCQ answers?
Create a free account — takes less than a minute.
Create free account