- Why in news
- On 22 October 2026, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan formally launched the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan from Taraori, Karnal, Haryana. The awareness drive runs from 22 October to 30 November 2026.
- What it is
- Khet Bachao Abhiyan is a nationwide awareness campaign of the Union Agriculture Ministry on soil health. It asks farmers to use fertilisers in balance on the basis of soil testing, rotate crops and move towards natural farming. It works through scientists and officials visiting villages and holding meetings with farmers.
- Launch
- Launched nationwide from Taraori in Karnal district, Haryana, by the Union Agriculture Minister.
- Duration
- A village-level campaign from 22 October to 30 November 2026.
- Three principles
- Balanced fertiliser use based on Soil Health Cards, crop rotation with pulses, and natural farming on at least half an acre.
- Who delivers it
- Vice-chancellors of agricultural universities, ICAR, scientists and officials are to visit villages and hold meetings with farmers; KVKs joined the launch virtually.
- Fertiliser subsidy
- The Centre bears a fertiliser subsidy of over ₹1.5 lakh crore so that urea costs ₹266 and DAP ₹1,350 per bag.
- Crop residue
- The campaign discourages stubble burning, which causes air pollution and kills soil microbes and earthworms.
- Aim
- Promote balanced fertiliser use, soil-test-based nutrient management and conservation of soil fertility.
- Run by
- Launched under the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
- Farmer groups
- FPOs, SHGs and FIGs take part in the campaign.
- Who runs it
- Panchayats, KVKs, ICAR and state governments will jointly run it. KVKs are the key coordinators.
- Core aim
- Minimise reckless use of chemical fertilisers. Farmers are to use inputs based on soil tests and more green manure, organic and bio-products.
- Demonstrations
- Live demonstrations of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) will be held.
- Scheme linkage
- The campaign will also link left-out beneficiaries to Kisan Credit Card and PM-KISAN, and carry the Pulses-Oilseeds Mission, Oil Palm and Cotton Mission to the farm.
Don’t confuse with Khet Bachao Abhiyan vs Soil Health Card scheme: The Abhiyan is a time-bound awareness drive. The Soil Health Card scheme issues cards with crop-wise nutrient advice, which the Abhiyan asks farmers to use.
Don’t confuse with Natural farming vs organic farming: The campaign promotes natural farming with inputs like Beejamrit and Ghanjeevamrit made from cow dung, cow urine and soil. Organic farming is a broader category.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Curbs overuse of subsidised urea and DAP, which protects soil health and cuts the subsidy bill.
- Links soil health, crop diversification, stubble management and food safety in one message.
- Balanced use of fertilisers can protect soil health and cut input costs for farmers.
- Less excess chemical fertiliser reduces environmental harm and the fertiliser subsidy burden.
- Cuts input cost for farmers and eases pressure on the fertiliser subsidy.
- Protects soil health and supports sustainable agriculture.
Problems
- Cheap, subsidised urea and DAP encourage overuse, and an awareness drive does not change prices.
- Assured procurement of paddy and wheat discourages shifting to pulses.
- Awareness alone may not change practice if fertiliser prices and subsidies favour excess urea use.
- Limited access to soil testing and extension services in many areas.
- A one-month campaign may not change long-standing fertiliser habits.
- Low soil-testing coverage and subsidised urea prices encourage overuse.
Way forward
- Back soil-test-based advice with fertiliser pricing and subsidy reform such as nutrient-based targeting.
- Provide assured procurement and support for pulses and for natural farming inputs.
- Link outreach with soil testing and soil health advice at the village level.
- Promote alternatives such as organic and integrated nutrient sources and reform incentives for balanced use.
- Link advice to soil test results and keep field support going beyond June.
- Reform fertiliser pricing gradually and promote organic and bio-inputs.
Put in your answer
Fertiliser subsidy: The Centre spends over ₹1.5 lakh crore on fertiliser subsidy, yet farmers pay only ₹266 per urea bag.
Pulses in rotation: Pulse roots fix nitrogen in the soil, so replacing paddy-wheat repetition with chickpea, lentil or pigeon pea restores fertility.
Integrated Nutrient Management: INM demonstrations show a combined approach of chemical, organic and bio-sources of nutrients.
Decentralised delivery: The campaign is meant to run through partnership from Panchayat to State and Centre, not top-down.
- 2013Mains GS3 · Q5Agricultural subsidies' types and distortions, including fertiliser use, critically analysed.
- 2017Mains GS3 · Q14Causes of declining rice-wheat yield; how crop diversification stabilises yields.
- 2021Mains GS3 · Q14Challenges to crop diversification and how emerging technologies can help.
- 2017Prelims Q72Which statements about the Soil Health Card Scheme are correct?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Nationwide awareness campaign on balanced fertiliser use, 22 Oct to 30 Nov 2026. Campaigns are rarely tested, so no question.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.