Duty-Free Import Window for Pulses Likely to Be Extended

13-Mar-2026 01:57 PM

New Delhi – India had allowed duty-free imports of two major pulses—tur (pigeon pea) and urad (black gram)—until March 31, 2026, and the deadline is now approaching. However, considering the ongoing tensions in West Asia and the potential risk of the El Niño weather cycle, it appears that the government may soon decide to extend the duty-free import period for these two pulses.

In addition, there is little likelihood of any change in the existing import duties—10% each on desi chana and masoor (lentils) and 30% on yellow peas. Domestic pulse production has declined, particularly for tur and urad, which means that the need for large imports will likely continue. At the same time, domestic demand and consumption of pulses in India are steadily increasing.

It is noteworthy that India mainly imports tur from Myanmar and African countries, while urad is largely imported from Myanmar and Brazil. Due to the Iran–US conflict, maritime freight costs—including insurance—have been rising continuously. As a result, imports of pulses from African countries and Brazil are becoming more expensive. Under such circumstances, the government may attempt to impose import duties on tur and urad in the future.

According to the second advance estimates of the Ministry of Agriculture, domestic production of tur during the 2025-26 season is expected to decline by 4.66%, falling from 3.624 million tonnes in 2024-25 to about 3.455 million tonnes. The decline in urad production is expected to be even larger.