Mention the advantages of the cultivation of pulses because of which the year 2016 was declared as the International Year of Pulses by the United Nations.
Approach · directive: “mention”
What it asks · List the nutritional, agronomic, environmental and economic advantages of pulses that led the UN to give them a dedicated year.
It asks 2 things — answer each
- Mention the advantages of pulse cultivation: nutrition and health, soil and climate, farm economy and food security
- Link these advantages to the UN's declaration of 2016 as the International Year of Pulses
Open with · The UN General Assembly declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses, with FAO as lead agency, under the slogan 'nutritious seeds for a sustainable future'.
Cover
- Nutrition: rich in protein, fibre, iron and folate, low in fat; the main protein source of vegetarian diets.
- Health: low glycaemic index and high fibre help manage diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
- Soil fertility: Rhizobium in root nodules fixes atmospheric nitrogen, cutting fertiliser need, as FAO stressed.
- Water and climate: most pulses need less water than cereals and tolerate drought, suiting rainfed farming.
- Farm economy: short-duration crops fit cropping systems, residues give fodder, and small farmers gain income.
- Food security: dry seeds store long; India, the largest producer and consumer, still lags demand (Pulses Mission since 2025).
Close with · Building on the 2016 Year, the UN General Assembly designated 10 February as World Pulses Day, keeping pulses central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Add value (verified)
- FAO's account of the International Year of Pulses highlights that nitrogen fixation by pulses improves soil fertility and reduces dependence on synthetic fertilizers.From butter beans to pigeon peas: UN launches International Year of Pulses - FAO ↗“The FAO Director-General particularly highlighted how the nitrogen-fixing properties of pulses can improve soil fertility, which extends the productivity of farmland, and eliminates dependency on synthetic fertilizers.”
- India is the world's largest producer and consumer of pulses; the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025-26 to 2030-31, Rs 11,440 crore) targets 350 lakh tonnes by 2030-31.Union Cabinet Approves Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses for 2025-26 to 2030-31 - PIB ↗“The Mission will be implemented over a six-year period, from 2025-26 to 2030-31, with a financial outlay of Rs 11,440 crore. Pulses hold special importance in India’s cropping systems and diets. India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of pulses. By 2030-31, the Mission is expected to expand the area under pulses to 310 lakh hectares, increase production to 350 lakh tonnes, and raise yield to 1130 kg/ha.”
- Building on the 2016 International Year of Pulses, the UN General Assembly designated 10 February as World Pulses Day.World Pulses Day | 10 February - FAO/UN ↗“the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) designated 10 February as World Pulses Day (WPD)”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2017, GS Paper I — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 16 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 216words · Minimalist IAS
The UN General Assembly declared 2016 the International Year of Pulses, implemented by FAO, under the slogan 'nutritious seeds for a sustainable future'. It rewarded what pulses give at once: nutrition, soil health, climate resilience and farm income.
Nutritional and health advantages
- Cheap protein: rich in protein, fibre, iron and folate and low in fat, pulses are the main protein source of vegetarian diets.
- Lifestyle diseases: a low glycaemic index and high fibre help manage diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Agronomic and environmental advantages
- Rhizobium in root nodules
- atmospheric nitrogen fixed
- less urea needed
- richer soil for the next crop
- Soil fertility: FAO stressed that this nitrogen fixation reduces dependence on synthetic fertilisers.
- Water and climate: most pulses need less water than cereals and tolerate drought, which suits rainfed farming.
Economic and food-security advantages
- Small farmers: low input cost, fodder from residues and a hedge against cereal price risk.
- Storage: dry seeds keep for long periods, steadying household and national food stocks.
- India's stake: the world's largest producer and consumer still lags demand; (since then) the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, 2025-26 to 2030-31, targets 350 lakh tonnes.
Since then, building on the 2016 Year, the UN General Assembly designated 10 February as World Pulses Day, recognising pulses' role in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 16 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
