The imposition of the 30% duty marks a reversal of the long duty-free window. In December 2023, the duty-free regime was introduced for yellow peas. The duty-free import window has been extended multiple times — for instance, through October 2024 and then till March 2026. But government was facing criticism on the influx of cheap imports that were pressuring local prices and hurting farmers.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, has strongly criticised the government’s policy on yellow peas, accusing the government of undermining domestic pulse farmers. He argued that the duty-free imports allowed cheap yellow peas (priced at about ₹3,500 per quintal) to flood the market, undercutting domestic pulses whose MSPs range around ₹7,000-8,000 per quintal.
In 2024-25, India imported over 6.7 million tonnes of pulses, of which about 3 million tonnes were yellow peas. Trade analysts noted that India had seen a surge in yellow pea imports in recent months, particularly from countries such as Canada and Russia, as traders sought to take advantage of lower global prices. The new tariff barrier is likely to reduce import volumes and encourage procurement of local produce.
