Pulses import duties likely to stay unchanged

New Delhi: The government is expected to keep the current import duties on pulses and extend the duty-free period for tur and urad to prevent price increases, especially with an expected El Nino affecting monsoon rainfall, according to officials. The current duty structure expires on March 31. The production of tur and urad are expected to decline, as per the government's second advance estimate. A decline could mean higher prices and higher food inflation.