- Why in news
- On 7 August 2026, the Agriculture Ministry told Rajya Sabha that NMEO-OP brought 2.73 lakh hectares under oil palm in 2021-22 to 2025-26, against a 6.5 lakh hectare target.
- What it is
- NMEO-OP is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to expand oil palm area and output in India. Its aim is to raise domestic edible oil production and cut import dependence. It gives farmers help with planting material and inputs, and price support through Viability Gap Payment.
- Outlay
- Launched in 2021-22 with Rs 11,040 crore, of which the Centre's share is Rs 8,844 crore.
- States covered
- Implemented in 15 States, including several in the North East, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala.
- Price assurance
- Farmers get a price assurance through the Viability Gap Payment (VGP).
- NMEO-Oilseeds
- NMEO-OS was launched on 3 October 2024 for seven years, 2024-25 to 2030-31.
Don’t confuse with NMEO-OP vs NMEO-OS: NMEO-OP (2021-22) promotes oil palm; NMEO-OS (2024) promotes oilseeds such as groundnut and mustard, with seed hubs and breeder seed support.
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
- Raises domestic edible oil output and cuts import dependence.
- Oil palm gives high oil yield per hectare and farmer income support through VGP.
Problems
- Area coverage reached only 2.73 lakh ha against a 6.5 lakh ha target.
- Long gestation of oil palm and environmental concerns in sensitive regions.
Way forward
- Speed up nurseries, planting material supply and processing units in States.
- Keep price assurance timely and sustainable.
Put in your answer
Central releases: Centre released Rs 1,447.21 crore to States under the Mission.
- 2018Mains GS3 · Q13Assess National Horticulture Mission's role in boosting horticulture production, productivity and farmer income.
- 2026Mains GS3 · Q3Describe agricultural Technology Missions and examine their role in food security.
- 2021Mains GS3 · Q14Challenges to crop diversification and how emerging technologies can help it.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements about the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oil Palm (NMEO-OP): 1. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. 2. It was launched in 2021-22 with an outlay of Rs 11,040 crore. 3. Its price assurance for farmers is given through the Minimum Support Price for oil palm fruit bunches. 4. It is implemented in 15 States, including Assam, Mizoram and Telangana. How many of the above statements are correct?
How many of the above statements are correct?
True or false?
1 of 6
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.NMEO-OP is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
True. It was approved as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
2.The Mission was launched with an outlay of Rs 11,040 crore.
True. Outlay is Rs 11,040 crore.
3.The Mission is implemented in 15 States, including Assam, Mizoram and Telangana.
True. These are among the 15 States.
4.Farmers under NMEO-OP are assured a price through the Minimum Support Price for oil palm fruit bunches.
False. The price assurance is through the Viability Gap Payment (VGP).
5.The National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds was launched in 2024 for a seven-year period.
True. Launched 3 October 2024 for 2024-25 to 2030-31.
6.Under NMEO-OP, the Centre's share of the outlay is Rs 8,844 crore, which is more than the State share.
True. Centre Rs 8,844 crore out of Rs 11,040 crore.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.