3 February 2026·PIB

Department of Agriculture &Farmers Welfare Budget Jumps from ₹21,933 Crore to ₹1.27 Lakh Crore in 12 Years

In this note

1. At a Glance

DA&FW (under Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare) Budget Estimate rose from ₹21,933.50 cr (BE 2013-14) to ₹1,27,290.16 cr (BE 2025-26) — a ~5.8x nominal increase. [1][2]
Reflects shift from input-subsidy regime to Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) + income support + risk insurance architecture. [1][3]
High UPSC salience: links GS-III (agriculture, subsidies, MSP), Budget cycle, and federalism (agriculture is a State subject under Entry 14, List II). [1]

PIB release dated 03 Feb 2026 highlighting the 12-year budget jump, issued alongside Union Budget 2026-27 discourse. [1]
Coincides with PM-KISAN's 20th instalment (Aug 2025, Varanasi, ~9.7 cr farmers, ~₹20,500 cr DBT) and continuation push for PM-AASHA. [3][4]

2013-14: DA&FW BE ₹21,933.50 cr. [1]
2015-16: PMFBY launched (Kharif 2016 rollout). [2]
Feb 2019: PM-KISAN launched — ₹6,000/yr in 3 tranches of ₹2,000 via DBT. [3]
2019: PM-KMY (pension for small/marginal farmers) launched. [1]
2018/2024: PM-AASHA integrated (PSS+PSF+PDPS+MIS); Cabinet (Sep 2024) approved continuation up to 2025-26 with ₹35,000 cr outlay during 15th FC cycle. [2]
2025: Fund for Innovation and Technology (FIAT) created under PMFBY (YES-TECH, WINDS). [2]
2025-26: BE ₹1,27,290.16 cr. [1]

Parent Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; Department: DA&FW. [1]
Constitutional locus: Agriculture — State subject, Entry 14, List II, Seventh Schedule.
BE 2013-14: ₹21,933.50 cr; BE 2025-26: ₹1,27,290.16 cr. [1]
PM-KISAN: Central Sector Scheme; ₹6,000/yr in 3 instalments via Aadhaar-seeded DBT; cumulative disbursal ~₹3.69 lakh cr through 19 instalments since 2019. [3]
20th instalment: 2 Aug 2025, Varanasi, ~9.7 cr beneficiaries, ~₹20,500 cr. [3]
19th instalment: 24 Feb 2025, Bhagalpur, Bihar, >9.8 cr farmers, >₹22,000 cr. [3]
PM-AASHA components: PSS + PSF + PDPS + MIS; outlay ₹35,000 cr (15th FC cycle, till 2025-26). [2]
PMFBY: Central Sector Scheme for crop risk; FIAT (2025) funds YES-TECH (yield estimation) & WINDS (weather stations). [2]
PM-KMY: Pension scheme for small & marginal farmers. [1]

Economic

~5.8x BE jump signals fiscal prioritisation but a sizeable share is income transfer (PM-KISAN) rather than capital formation. [1][3]
PM-AASHA's PSS/MIS underwrites MSP-linked procurement for pulses, oilseeds, copra. [2]

Social

DBT plug-in (Aadhaar-seeded) cuts leakage; ~9.7 cr farmer reach indicates wide grassroots penetration. [3]
PM-KMY targets small & marginal farmers (≤2 ha) — equity orientation. [1]

Administrative / Federalism

Despite Agriculture being a State subject, the Union has expanded footprint via Central Sector Schemes (PM-KISAN, PMFBY) bypassing state-channel friction. [1]
Implementation depends on state land records, PFMS rails, and Aadhaar seeding. [3]

Scientific / Technological

FIAT (2025) under PMFBY: YES-TECH (tech-based yield estimation), WINDS (Weather Information Network & Data Systems). [2]

Governance

PIB flagged ineligible beneficiaries in PM-KISAN — recovery and e-KYC drives ongoing. [3]

DA&FW BE 2013-14: ₹21,933.50 cr. [1]
DA&FW BE 2025-26: ₹1,27,290.16 cr. [1]
PM-KISAN annual benefit: ₹6,000 in 3 tranches of ₹2,000 every 4 months. [3]
PM-KISAN launch: Feb 2019. [3]
PM-KISAN 20th instalment: 2 Aug 2025, Varanasi. [3]
PM-AASHA outlay (15th FC, till 2025-26): ₹35,000 cr. [2]
PM-AASHA components: PSS, PSF, PDPS, MIS (4). [2]
FIAT under PMFBY launched 2025; sub-initiatives YES-TECH & WINDS. [2]
Cumulative PM-KISAN disbursal: ~₹3.69 lakh cr across 19 instalments. [3]
PMFBY type: Central Sector Scheme (100% Union funded for its central component). [2]
Agriculture: State subject, Entry 14, List II.
PM-KMY = pension scheme for small & marginal farmers. [1]

GS-III: Issues of buffer stocks & food security; MSP; subsidies; e-technology for farmers; major crops & cropping patterns.
GS-II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; centre-state relations on a State-list subject.
Probable stems: 1. "A 5.8x rise in DA&FW budget has not translated proportionally into farm-sector GVA growth. Examine." (GS-III) 2. "Discuss how PM-AASHA and PMFBY complement MSP in stabilising farmer incomes." (GS-III) 3. "Central Sector Schemes in agriculture stretch the federal principle. Critically analyse." (GS-II)

MSP & CACP — pricing backbone behind PM-AASHA.
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) — capital-side counterpart to PM-KISAN's income side.
PMFBY architecture — actuarial premium, state share, YES-TECH/WINDS.
DBT & JAM trinity — delivery rail of PM-KISAN.
Doubling Farmers' Income (Dalwai Committee) — original policy frame.
NITI Aayog reports on agri-marketing/APMC reforms — market-side complement.
15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-26) — fiscal window for PM-AASHA.
Natural/Organic farming missions (NMNF) — DA&FW's newer sustainability pillar.

Ministry vs Department confusion: Ministry of Agri & Farmers Welfare has two departments — DA&FW and DARE (Research & Education); the ₹1.27 lakh cr figure is DA&FW only, not full ministry. [1]
PM-KISAN is Central Sector (100% Union), not Centrally Sponsored — frequently mis-tagged.
PM-AASHA ≠ PM-KISAN: AASHA is price support (PSS/PDPS/PSF/MIS), KISAN is income transfer. [2][3]
BE figure (₹1,27,290 cr) is 2025-26 Budget Estimate, not actuals or RE.
Agriculture remains a State subject (Entry 14, List II) — Union role is via schemes, not legislative competence.