The Union government is facing growing demands from states for tur and chana supplies as prices rise, even as it seeks to preserve its buffer to use in domestic markets to bring down retail prices.
“States are demanding pulses—tur and chana. But our directive is to store and save the buffer. The demand for supplies comes as retail prices of pulses remain elevated. The government has been wary of rising prices. In as early as July, it asked the agriculture ministry to relax the Price Support Scheme norm requiring government-procured pulses to be disposed of within nine months.
The official added that larger states, especially in southern India, have sought over 100,000 tonnes of tur each. The consumer affairs ministry holds about 4.5 million tonnes of pulses, including 1.1 million tonnes of tur, 2.3 million tonnes of chana, 650,000 tonnes of masur, 370,000 tonnes of moong and 70,000 tonnes of urad. All-India retail tur dal prices were up 17.2% year-on-year at ₹ 131.98 per kg on Monday. Gram dal prices increased 8.66% to ₹ 92.86 per kg, according to government data. Urad dal prices were up 10.56% at ₹ 125.45 per kg, while moong dal prices were up 4.77% at ₹ 114.11 per kg. The government imposed a 30% import duty on yellow peas from November 1, 2025, ending the earlier duty-free regime for qualifying shipments.
Our function is not to give states our buffer for their welfare schemes but to intervene in retail markets when necessary,” a government official said. The Union government would not be able to meet demands of this scale while preserving stocks for future requirements, the official said.
