New Delhi,The government on December 28 extended the duty-free import treatment for Urad and Tur Dal by one year, to March 31, 2025. This comes less than a week after a similar import duty exemption was granted for inbound Masur dal shipments.
The extension is significant because pulses inflation is over 20% at both the retail and wholesale levels, and the Kharif crop outlook is poor. With El Nino effects occurring, Rabi crop sowing for pulses as of mid-December was 8.2% lower than the previous year. India mainly imports pulses, an important protein source, from countries like Canada, Australia, Myanmar, and Mozambique. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued the notification to extend the current March 31, 2024 sunset date for duty-free Urad and Tur Dal imports, with the approval of Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
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