Government Promotes Balanced Use of Fertilizers and Sustainable Practices

1. At a Glance

• Umbrella policy push by Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers to correct skewed NPK consumption ratio, cut chemical-fertilizer dependence, and incentivise States toward organic/natural farming [1][2].
• Anchored on PM-PRANAM (CCEA-approved 28 June 2023) plus parallel instruments: Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS), Neem-coated urea, Nano Urea, Soil Health Card linkages [2][3].
• High UPSC relevance: cross-cuts GS-III (Agriculture, Subsidies, Environment) and GS-II (Centre-State fiscal devolution via subsidy savings).

2. Why in the News

• 24 March 2026: MoS Chemicals & Fertilizers Anupriya S. Patel told Rajya Sabha that ICAR holds there is no single "ideal" NPK ratio for India — varies by crop, soil, agro-climatic zone — reiterating government's balanced-use/sustainable-practices stance [1].
• Renewed CCEA-approved push under PM-PRANAM to incentivise States cutting chemical-fertilizer consumption [1][2].

3. Background & Evolution

• 1977: Retention Price Scheme introduced; led to urea over-use bias.
• 2010: Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) launched for P&K fertilizers (urea kept outside) — first step toward balanced use.
• 2015: Soil Health Card Scheme launched to provide crop-wise nutrient recommendations.
• 2015: 100% Neem-coating of urea mandated to curb diversion and improve N-use efficiency.
• 2021: Nano Liquid Urea commercialised by IFFCO.
• 28 June 2023: CCEA approves PM-PRANAM [2].
• 2025–26: Eight Nano Urea plants targeted, 44 crore bottles ≈ 195 LMT conventional urea equivalent [3].

4. Core Static Facts

• Scheme: PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother-Earth (PM-PRANAM) [2].
• Implementing ministry: Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers [1].
• Approving body / date: CCEA, 28 June 2023 [2].
• Financing model: 50% of fertilizer subsidy saved by a State/UT (vs prior 3-yr average consumption of Urea, DAP, NPK, MOP) passed back as Grant [2].
• Use of grant: 70% for asset creation related to alternate fertilizer technology; 30% for rewarding farmers, panchayats, FPOs, SHGs adopting reduction (as per CCEA note) [2].
• Advisory body: ICAR — issues crop-specific recommended doses; emphasises soil-test based Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) [1][3].
• Yield evidence: 100% NPK → 20–30% yield rise over N-only; 100% NPK + FYM → 30–50% rise over control [1].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic

• Fertilizer subsidy is one of India's largest subsidy heads; reducing urea over-use lowers fiscal outgo while States get fiscal incentive via 50% saved-subsidy grant [2].
• Nano Urea cuts logistics/storage cost; 8 plants by 2025–26 = 195 LMT conventional-urea equivalent, reducing import dependence on urea/DAP/MOP [3].

Environmental

• Skewed N:P:K (urea overuse) causes soil acidification, micronutrient depletion, nitrate leaching, eutrophication, N₂O emissions — PM-PRANAM aims at restoration of "Mother Earth" [2].
• Promotes organic, natural farming, bio-fertilizers, green manure, crop-residue recycling [1].

Federal / Administrative

• Conditional grant design makes it a cooperative-federalism incentive: States must verifiably cut chemical-fertilizer use to access funds [2].
• ICAR's no-single-ratio position decentralises advisory to State Agricultural Universities + Soil Health Cards [1].

Scientific / Technological

• Nano Urea/Nano DAP: controlled nutrient release, higher Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) [3].
• Neem coating slows urea hydrolysis, curbs industrial diversion.

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 24 March 2026: Rajya Sabha written reply reiterating ICAR's no-ideal-NPK position and government's balanced-use thrust [1].
• Rabi 2025–26: Cabinet approved NBS rates with continued special package on DAP over and above NBS to keep retail price affordable [2].
• 2025–26 target: Commissioning of 8 Nano Urea plants, 44 crore bottles capacity [3].

7. Prelims Hooks

• PM-PRANAM full form: PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment And Amelioration of Mother-Earth [2].
• Approved by CCEA on 28 June 2023 [2].
• Implementing ministry: Chemicals & Fertilizers (NOT Agriculture & Farmers Welfare) [1].
• Grant = 50% of fertilizer subsidy saved by State/UT vs previous 3 years' average [2].
• Covered fertilizers for savings calculation: Urea, DAP, NPK, MOP [2].
• NBS scheme (2010) covers P & K fertilizers; urea is outside NBS (separate price control).
• ICAR: No single ideal NPK ratio applicable nationally [1].
• 100% NPK + FYM raises yield by 30–50% over control plots [1].
• By 2025-26: 8 Nano Urea plants, 44 crore bottles ≈ 195 LMT conventional urea [3].
• Neem coating of urea: 100% mandated since 2015.
• Advisory science body for fertilizer doses: ICAR [1].
• Minister giving the Rajya Sabha reply (2026): Smt. Anupriya S. Patel, MoS C&F [1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Agriculture — issues of Subsidies, MSP, Public Distribution; Cropping Patterns; Food Security; Environment & Ecology.
• GS-II: Government policies/interventions; Centre-State fiscal relations.
• Plausible stems: 1. "Skewed NPK consumption is both a fiscal and an ecological problem. Examine the role of PM-PRANAM and NBS in correcting it." (GS-III, 15M) 2. "Discuss how nano-fertilizers and bio-fertilizers can transform India's fertilizer subsidy regime." (GS-III, 10M) 3. "Cooperative federalism via performance-linked grants — analyse with reference to PM-PRANAM." (GS-II, 10M)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS), 2010 — sibling instrument; tested directly.
• Soil Health Card Scheme, 2015 — provides the diagnostic base for balanced use.
• PM-KISAN & DBT in fertilizers — subsidy reform architecture.
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) & Natural Farming Mission — organic-farming pillar PM-PRANAM leverages.
• Nano Urea / IFFCO innovation — tech complement.
• One Nation One Fertilizer (PMBJP — Bharat brand) — branding reform.
• Green Revolution & its ecological costs — historical backdrop to skewed NPK.
• ICAR & Agricultural Research System — advisory backbone.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Wrongly assigning PM-PRANAM to Ministry of Agriculture — it is under Chemicals & Fertilizers [1].
• Confusing NBS (P&K only) with urea, which remains under separate statutory price control.
• Assuming a fixed 4:2:1 NPK ratio as national target — ICAR explicitly denies a single ideal ratio [1].
• Mixing up PM-PRANAM (subsidy savings to States) with PKVY (organic clusters to farmers).
• Treating Nano Urea as a PM-PRANAM component — it is parallel, both promote balanced use but funded differently.