India considers cutting import duties on pulses to cool prices, sources say

According to Business Recorder, New Delhi is weighing a reduction in import levies on several pulse varieties to raise supply and ease rising food inflation. The move follows an uneven monsoon that has raised worries about domestic harvests, citing two government officials and one industry source. Any cut could apply mainly to lentils and yellow peas, while chickpeas would be excluded.

Duties currently stand at 10% for red lentils and chickpeas, and 30% for yellow peas. Pigeon peas and black gram already come in duty free until the current fiscal year ends in March 2027. In 2024-25, imports covered about 23% of consumption, with 7.3 million tons arriving against 25.7 million tons grown at home.

Food inflation has climbed since December and hit 5.95% in August, while pigeon pea inflation was 5.6% and black gram inflation 7.4% year on year. Output is forecast to drop sharply after key growing states recorded rainfall as much as 30% below normal during the summer monsoon, which runs June to September. Chickpea planting begins in October, and keeping duties on that crop could encourage a larger sowing area. A government spokesperson had not yet answered a Reuters request for comment.