₹500-Crore Pulses Research Scheme Faces Approval Delays, Centre Vows to Fast-Track Clearances

Pulses Mission Completes First Year Without Research Project Approvals; ₹500 Crore Funding Awaits Clearance

The Centre’s six-year Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses has completed its first year without approving any research projects under its dedicated ₹500-crore allocation. The Agriculture Ministry has now pledged to speed up the process, saying eligible projects are expected to receive approval by the end of October 2026.

The delay prompted the Cabinet Secretariat to direct the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare to complete the necessary approval procedures by November 15, 2026.

In response, the ministry said on Sunday that work was underway to expedite the process and that projects recommended by the committee were expected to be sanctioned ahead of the stipulated deadline.

Cabinet Secretariat Seeks Early Clearances

The pending approvals were discussed at a meeting on October 5, chaired by Cabinet Secretary Dr T V Somanathan at Seva Teerth. The meeting reviewed the reorientation of agricultural research in oilseeds, pulses and cotton.

Among those present were Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra, Environment Secretary Narendra Bhooshan and Mangi Lal Jat, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education.

Officials from the Cabinet Secretariat reportedly highlighted that proposals under the research component of the National Pulses Mission had not yet received sanctions from the Agriculture Ministry’s Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. The ministry was asked to complete the process for releasing approvals against the ₹500-crore research fund by November 15.

419 Proposals Under Technical Evaluation

The Agriculture Ministry informed The Indian Express that it had invited research proposals from institutions and other eligible organisations across the country after identifying priority areas.

A total of 419 proposals have been submitted for screening and technical assessment. Of these, 125 came from ICAR institutes, 249 from state agricultural universities, 14 from other government universities, institutions and public sector undertakings, and five from private universities. The categories listed by the ministry account for 393 proposals, with the remaining 26 not specified in the quoted breakdown.

A screening committee has reviewed the submissions against the mission’s research priorities and objectives. Shortlisted researchers are presenting their proposals to a national-level Research and Development Committee.

The committee includes the Additional Secretary, senior ICAR officials and scientists, mission officers and subject specialists. Its assessment covers scientific quality, relevance, practical application in the field, likely benefits to farmers and the risk of duplicating ongoing research.

The ministry said several proposals had already been shortlisted for approval through the committee’s first three meetings.

₹11,440 Crore Mission Aims to Boost Self-Reliance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses on October 11, 2025, after the Union Cabinet approved it on October 1. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the initiative in her Budget speech on February 1, 2025.

The programme will run from 2025-26 to 2030-31 with a total financial outlay of ₹11,440 crore, including ₹500 crore for research.

The mission focuses on five areas: developing climate-resilient seeds and ensuring their commercial availability, improving protein content, raising productivity, strengthening post-harvest storage and management, and securing remunerative prices for farmers.

It aims to increase India’s pulses production by 45%, from 242 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24 to 350 lakh metric tonnes by 2030-31. The area under pulses cultivation is targeted to expand by 13%, from 275 lakh hectares to 310 lakh hectares, while average yield is expected to rise by 28%, from 881 kg per hectare to 1,130 kg per hectare.

Pulses Production Rises in 2025-26

The Agriculture Ministry has reported growth in the area under cultivation, overall production and productivity during the mission’s first year.

According to the Third Advance Estimates for 2025-26, pulses cultivation expanded from 277.2 lakh hectares in 2024-25 to 286.5 lakh hectares, an increase of 3.3%.

Production rose 6.7%, from 256.8 lakh tonnes to 274.1 lakh tonnes. Average productivity increased by 3.3%, from 926 kg per hectare to 957 kg per hectare.

While the latest figures indicate progress in cultivation and output, the delay in approving research projects leaves the ministry under pressure to move the research component forward and ensure it contributes to the mission’s long-term goals.