PRESS
India likely to raise import duty on lentils to 30% from Apr 1
This story was originally published at 10:34 IST on 20 February 2026
Register to read our real-time news.Informist, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026
MUMBAI – India is likely to increase its import duty on lentils to 30% from the current 10%, The Western Producer, a Canada-based newspaper, said in a report Thursday. The increase is likely to be effective from Apr. 1, it said, quoting Gaurav Jain of AgPulse Analytica. The current 10% import duty expires on Mar. 31.
Explaining the rationale behind the move, the report said the current minimum support price for lentils is $771 per tonne, while imported lentils are selling at about $600 per tonne after the 10% import duty.
The government has repeatedly told farmers that it will purchase up to 100% of their lentils production at minimum support prices. That means the government would be losing about $171 per tonne if it purchased lentils from farmers at the MSP and then sold the crop at the prevailing market price, the report said. That is why Jain and many other industry officials in India believe the government will increase the duty to 30% after the existing 10% duty expires on Mar. 31, it added. End
US$1 = INR 90.97
Compiled by Abhijit Doshi
Filed by Tanima Banerjee
For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.
Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd. by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt. Ltd.
Informist Media Tel +91 (22) 6985-4000
Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com
© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.
To read more please subscribe
Share this Story:
