Masur Dal imports to stay duty-free till March 2025

Govt extends import duty exemption on Masur dal till 2025 to tackle rising pulses inflation & lag in Rabi crop sowing.

With pulses inflation accelerating amid poor output prospects for the Kharif crop and a significant lag in Rabi crop sowing, the government on Friday extended the import duty exemption on Masur dal by a year, extending its validity till March 31, 2025, from the current deadline of March 2024. 

In November, retail prices of pulses surged 20.23% compared with 18.8% in October, while wholesale prices rose at an even faster 21.6%. As of December 15, Rabi crop sowing for pulses was 8.2% lower than a year earlier. India imports pulses from countries such as Canada, Australia, Myanmar and Mozambique.