AGRICULTURE WILL BE CENTRAL TO ACHIEVING VIKSIT BHARAT, DRIVING INCLUSIVE GROWTH AND IMPROVING THE LIVELIHOODS OF MILLIONS: ECONOMIC SURVEY

1. At a Glance

• Economic Survey 2025-26 (tabled by FM Nirmala Sitharaman, 29 Jan 2026) positions agriculture as central to Viksit Bharat @2047, citing 4.4% average annual growth over 5 years and decadal growth of 4.45% (FY16-FY25) — highest among any decade [S1][S2].
• Key inflection: Horticulture (~33% of agri-GVA) has overtaken food grains in tonnage terms; allied sectors (livestock, fisheries) growing 5-6% are the new growth engines [S2][S3].
• For aspirants: maps to GS-III (agriculture, food security, subsidies) and is the authoritative current data source for Prelims 2026 + Mains essays on rural economy.

2. Why in the News

• Economic Survey 2025-26 tabled in Parliament on 29 January 2026, ahead of Union Budget 2026-27 [S1].
• Records food grain output at 3,577.3 LMT and horticulture at 367.72 MT in FY25 — both record highs [S1].
• Cabinet (1 Jan 2025) extended PMFBY + RWBCIS to 2025-26 with ₹69,515.71 cr outlay (FY22-FY26) [S3].

3. Background & Evolution

• Agriculture's share in GVA has fallen but employs ~46% of workforce (PLFS basis, historically cited in earlier Surveys).
• Successive Surveys flagged the livestock-fisheries-horticulture pivot; 2024-25 Survey reported 5% avg growth (FY17-FY23) [S4].
• Green Revolution (1960s) → White Revolution (Operation Flood) → Blue Revolution (PMMSY 2020) → Horticulture-led "Golden Revolution" trajectory.
• PM-KISAN launched Feb 2019; 21 instalments disbursed totalling ₹4.09 lakh crore by FY26 [S3].

4. Core Static Facts

• Sponsoring document: Economic Survey 2025-26, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance [S1].
• Decadal growth FY16-FY25: 4.45% — highest of any decade [S1].
• 5-year avg agri growth: 4.4% [S1].
• FY26 estimated agri growth: 3.1%; H1 FY26 agri-GVA grew 3.6% vs 2.7% in H1 FY25 [S2][S3].
• Food grain production FY25: 3,577.3 LMT (↑254.3 LMT YoY) [S1][S3].
• Horticulture FY25: 367.72 MT (up from 280.70 MT in 2013-14); ~33% of agri-GVA [S1].
• MSP paddy: ₹1,310/qtl (2013-14) → ₹2,369/qtl (2025-26) [S3].
• PMFBY+RWBCIS outlay (FY22-FY26): ₹69,515.71 crore; Cabinet approval 1 Jan 2025 [S3].
• Allied sector growth (livestock + fisheries): 5-6% stable [S2].
• Nodal ministries: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - Agri-GVA share declining but absolute output rising; horticulture > food grains in tonnage signals diversification [S2]. - PM-KISAN ₹4.09 lakh crore transferred — largest DBT to farmers globally [S3].

Social - Livelihood support for ~46% of workforce; Survey frames sector as vehicle for inclusive growth [S1]. - MSP for 23 mandated crops + income transfers cushion small/marginal farmers (86% of holdings) [S3].

Environmental - Horticulture and allied sectors typically less water-intensive than paddy-wheat cycle; pivot supports sustainability narrative [S1]. - RWBCIS prices climate risk into insurance (parametric trigger) [S3].

Administrative / Governance - Agriculture is a State subject (Entry 14, State List, 7th Schedule) — central schemes operate via state machinery, creating implementation friction. - DBT architecture (Aadhaar-linked) underpins PM-KISAN scale [S3].

Scientific / Technological - Digital Agriculture Mission, AgriStack, drone use (Namo Drone Didi) referenced in allied PIB documents [S5].

6. Recent Developments (12-18 months)

• 1 Jan 2025: Cabinet extends PMFBY + RWBCIS to 2025-26, outlay ₹69,515.71 cr [S3].
• FY25 (AY 2024-25): Record food grain 3,577.3 LMT; horticulture 367.72 MT [S1].
• MSP 2025-26: Paddy raised to ₹2,369/qtl [S3].
• 29 Jan 2026: Economic Survey 2025-26 tabled; identifies agriculture as Viksit Bharat pillar [S1].
• H1 FY26: Agri-GVA grew 3.6% on favourable SW monsoon [S2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Decadal agri growth FY16-FY25: 4.45% — highest ever [S1].
• Food grain output FY25: 3,577.3 LMT [S1].
• Horticulture FY25: 367.72 MT, ~33% of agri-GVA [S1].
• Horticulture in 2013-14: 280.70 MT [S1].
• 5-year average agri growth: 4.4% [S1].
• PMFBY + RWBCIS extension outlay: ₹69,515.71 crore (FY22-FY26), Cabinet nod 1 Jan 2025 [S3].
• PM-KISAN cumulative transfer: ₹4.09 lakh crore in 21 instalments [S3].
• Paddy MSP 2025-26: ₹2,369/qtl (vs ₹1,310 in 2013-14) [S3].
• FY26 agri growth estimate: 3.1% [S2].
• Allied sector (livestock + fisheries) growth: 5-6% [S2].
• Survey tabled by FM Nirmala Sitharaman on 29 Jan 2026 [S1].
• Agriculture is Entry 14, State List, Seventh Schedule.
• Horticulture production exceeds food grain production in tonnage in FY25 [S2].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III — Indian Economy: Agriculture, MSP, food processing, subsidies, e-technology for farmers.
• GS-II — Welfare schemes (PM-KISAN, PMFBY).
• Possible question stems: 1. "Horticulture and allied activities, not food grains, are the new growth engines of Indian agriculture." Discuss with reference to Economic Survey 2025-26. 2. Critically evaluate the role of MSP and income transfer schemes (PM-KISAN) in making agriculture central to Viksit Bharat @2047. 3. Examine the structural shift toward allied sectors in Indian agriculture and its implications for farmer income and climate resilience.

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• PM-KISAN — flagship income support; quantum and coverage.
• PMFBY / RWBCIS — crop insurance architecture and recent extension.
• MSP & CACP — pricing mechanism, A2+FL vs C2 debate.
• PMMSY (Blue Revolution) — fisheries growth driver.
• National Mission on Edible Oils — Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) — import dependence reduction.
• Digital Agriculture Mission / AgriStack — tech backbone.
• Operation Greens (TOP → TOTAL) — horticulture value chain.
• Viksit Bharat @2047 framework — overarching vision document.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Food grain vs horticulture units: food grain reported in LMT (3,577.3), horticulture in MT (367.72) — do not compare directly without conversion [S1].
• Confusing 4.4% (5-yr) with 4.45% (decadal FY16-FY25) — both appear in Survey.
• PMFBY outlay ₹69,515.71 cr is for FY22-FY26 combined, not annual [S3].
• Agriculture is a State subject, but allied schemes (fisheries, dairying) sit with a separate Union ministry — not the Agri ministry.
• Survey 2024-25 cited 5% (FY17-FY23); Survey 2025-26 cites 4.4% (5-yr) and 4.45% (decadal) — different windows, not contradictions [S1][S4].

11. Sources

• [S1] AGRICULTURE WILL BE CENTRAL TO ACHIEVING VIKSIT BHARAT… Economic Survey — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2219960 — (tier 1)
• [S2] Highlights: Economic Survey 2025-26 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2219907 — (tier 1)
• [S3] Economic Survey 2025-26 (full PDF, DEA) — https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2026/jan/doc2026130774501.pdf — (tier 1)
• [S4] India's Agriculture Sector Demonstrates Resilience… Economic Survey 2024-25 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2097886 — (tier 1)
• [S5] Atmanirbharta in Agriculture & Allied Sectors (PIB backgrounder, Aug 2025) — https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/aug/doc2025815611601.pdf — (tier 1)