Government has extended the free import policy for urad and yellow peas in an attempt to streamline the supply of pulses

The government has extended the period of the free import policy for yellow peas and urad. In doing so, it is made easy for traders to import these pulses into the nation. The Commerce Department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued a notification and made an announcement. 

According to the notification, the import of yellow peas under ITC (HS) code 07131010 has now been exempted from the previously applicable minimum import price (MIP) condition or any port restrictions. Now it will be classified as "free". The free import policy in the case of yellow peas has been extended for three months.

However, traders will have to register their imports under the online import monitoring system. This new rule will be applicable immediately to all shipments where the Bill of Lading (Ship on Board) has been issued on or before May 31, 2025. Earlier, the free import policy for yellow peas had expired on February 28, 2025. Now after the government's decision, traders have an additional time of three months i.e. till May 31, 2025, to freely import yellow peas. The notification said that there will be no change in other terms and conditions of earlier government notifications.

The government has also extended the period of free import policy for urad dal. Under the revised rules, traders can continue to freely import urad dal till March 31, 2026. Its deadline was to expire on March 31, 2025. The decision to extend the import policy for both yellow peas and urad is expected to stabilize prices and ensure adequate supply in the domestic market. Pulses are an important part of India's food security, and the government frequently changes import policies to balance demand and supply. The relaxation in import conditions for yellow peas may also help food processing industries that depend on imported pulses.