By — Shyamal Sinha
The Union Cabinet has approved a centrally sponsored scheme namely ‘Missionfor Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’ on 1st October, 2025 aimed at boosting domestic production and achieving self-sufficiency (Aatmanirbharta) in pulses over a six-year period, from 2025-26 to 2030-31, with a financial outlay of Rs. 11,440 Crore.
Under the Post-harvest infrastructure component of the mission, a totalof 1000 processing units have been approved for the mission period.Out of the 1000 processing units, in the first phase, target of528 processing units have been allotted to States and Union Territories. State wise initial target of processing units is at Annexure-I.
To increase the area and production of Pulses in the rice fallow areas and other diversifiable areas,the support is being provided through the distribution of free seed kit. Under the mission,87.5 lakh seed kits are targeted to be distributed in 6 years as per the Annual Action Plan (AAP) submitted byStates/UTs.During Rabi 2025-26,a total 10.36 lakh seed kits have been allocated to States. The state wise allocation is at Annexure-II. The tentative targets of seedkits for 2026-27, 2027-28, 2028-29, 2029-30 and 2030-31 are 15.00 lakh, 16.25 lakh, 17.50 lakh, 13.75 lakh and 12.5 lakh numbersrespectively.
A total 489 districts have been identified as focussed districts for clusters under pulses Mission. The identified districtsmaybe modified in future based on local requirement and changing context. The list of focusdistricts in the country is at Annexure-III.
The total area under pulses cultivation is projected to expand by 35 lakh hectares, comprising 24.5 lakh hectares in traditional areas and 10.5 lakh hectares in non-traditional area under pulsesby 2030–31.
