Guruswamy Chandrashekhar at Pulses 26/
“India's National Pulses Mission - self-sufficiency strategy or chimera?”

Economist, senior editor and policy commentator Guruswamy Chandrashekhar examined the objectives and feasibility of India’s National Pulses Mission, the government initiative designed to strengthen domestic pulse production and move the country toward greater self-sufficiency. He outlined targets to expand planted area, raise yields and increase production over the next six years, while highlighting structural challenges including climate change, water scarcity, low productivity and the continued reliance on rainfed agriculture.

Chandrashekhar argued that increasing production alone will not be enough to address India’s broader food and nutrition challenges, he emphasized the need for policies that encourage higher pulse consumption, particularly among lower-income populations, and suggested that integrating pulses more deeply into government welfare programs could significantly improve nutrition outcomes while creating additional demand. Looking ahead, he noted that weather risks, domestic political priorities and food inflation concerns are likely to continue influencing India’s import requirements and policy decisions in the years ahead.

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