Govt plans to halt open market sales of pulses amid shortage fears

The government has asked the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare to consider temporarily stopping open market disposal of pulses from public stocks. The move comes amid concerns that El Nino could reduce the 2026 kharif pulse crop output. The government also sought a nine-month relaxation in the Price Support Scheme disposal norms for tur and chana procured in 2025-26.