Government must monitor pulses import, mandate registration of all contracts May 17, 2021 × Border control agencies need to ensure that substandard material does not enter the food supply chain In a welcome move, the government has liberalised import of certain pulses to counter rising prices amid tightening availability and threat of food inflation. The three pulse varieties — tur/arhar (pigeon pea), urad (black matpe) and moong (green gram) — under quantitative restriction since August 2017 are now under ‘Free’ import category until October 31 this year. Importantly, these are the three major pulse crops cultivated in the Kharif season, planting for which will start in June. While the liberal import policy will have a salutary effect on open market prices, there are also some associated risks that the policymakers must consider and address.