Background: Pulses have been very curial in many aspects like; rich source of protein, economy aspect and contribute to agricultural and environmental sustainability. In this investigation an attempt has been made to evaluate the dynamics of area substitution between pulses and other crops, extent of spatial shift among pulses producing states and some policy measures have been suggested to stabilize the area under pulses across states. 
Methods: Secondary data on area of principal crops for the period 1966-2016 was used in this article. By computing quartile values, all states and groups of states were clubbed into four different quartiles for each decade. Area substitution among principal field crops including pulses has been analyzed using first order Markov transition probability matrix (TPM).
Result: This TPM was further used to evaluate the mobility of membership status of states under pulses production. It was found that period 1986-2006 happened to be the golden period for area under pulses in India. Mean area under pulses had increased for first three decades and in the subsequent two decades mean area (quartile values) had declined substantially.