Pulses Price Hike: A continuous rise is being seen in the prices of pulses. In such a situation, the Modi government at the Center has taken a big decision to provide cheap pulses in the domestic market. The period of zero duty on import of lentils has been extended from March 31, 2024 to March 31, 2025. Now importers will not have to pay any duty on import of lentils till March 2025. This will help in providing masoor dal to the common consumers in the domestic market at cheaper prices.
The government has also issued a notification to implement the decision to extend the period of import duty exemption given on import of lentils till March 31, 2025. The Finance Ministry has issued this notification on December 21, 2023. In the retail inflation data released for the month of November, an increase in the inflation rate was seen. The rise in prices of food items is responsible for the increase in retail inflation rate, in which the inflation of pulses has played a major role. The inflation rate of pulses has increased to 20.23 percent in November 2023, which was 18.79 percent in October. It is clear from this that the inflation of pulses has increased the problems of the government.
There has been no major change in the prices of masoor dal during the last one year period. According to government data, on December 22, 2022, the average retail price of masoor dal was Rs 94.83 per kg while the maximum price was Rs 134 per kg. On December 22, 2023, the average price of masoor dal has come down with a slight decline to Rs 93.97, while a jump was seen in the maximum price and it has increased to Rs 153 per kg, i.e. there has been a jump of 14 percent. < /p>