‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ to be carried out across the country from June 1 to June 30
1. At a Glance
- Month-long national campaign (1–30 June 2026) of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) to push balanced fertiliser use, soil-health protection, and direct agro-advisory to every village ahead of Kharif 2026 [S1].
- Slogan: "Less fertiliser, right fertiliser, right advice"; positioned as a jan andolan linking Panchayats–KVKs–ICAR–State governments [S1].
- Relevant for UPSC GS-III (agriculture, food security, fertiliser subsidy, soil health) and as a flagship sequel to Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA) [S3].
2. Why in the News
- Launched by Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan with rollout from Ramsiya village, Raisen district (Madhya Pradesh) on 1 June 2026 [S1].
- Timed with the Kharif 2026 sowing season and PM's call to curb excessive chemical-fertiliser use [S1].
3. Background & Evolution
- Builds on Soil Health Card Scheme (2015) — "Swasth Dharaa, Khet Haraa" — under which >25 crore SHCs had been distributed by Jul 2025 [S2].
- Direct successor outreach to Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA) launched 29 May 2025 from ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar, which deployed scientist teams to villages [S3].
- Aligns with the Nano-Urea push: ICAR-KVK trials on 94 crops showed ~8% yield gain via foliar nano-urea application [S4].
4. Core Static Facts
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) [S1].
- Implementing partners: Gram Panchayats, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), State Agriculture Departments [S1].
- Duration: 1 June 2026 – 30 June 2026 [S1].
- Thrust areas: Balanced fertiliser use; weather/soil/market-based advisory; convergence of scheme benefits (PM-KISAN, PMFBY, SHC, PKVY) [S1].
- Political mobilisation: CMs, Ministers, MPs, MLAs to be roped in as a "national mass movement" [S1].
- Related policy stack: Soil Health Card (2015), Nano-Urea (IFFCO, approved 2021), Neem-Coated Urea (mandatory since 2015) [S2][S4].
5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
Economic - Targets reduction of India's fertiliser subsidy bill (~₹1.7 lakh crore p.a. peak) by curbing overuse of Urea/DAP [S4]. - Supports Kharif 2026 preparedness — Govt reports 11% extra seed availability [S1].
Environmental - Addresses soil degradation: skewed N:P:K ratio (ideal 4:2:1) and depletion of micronutrients [S2]. - Promotes natural/organic farming and nano-fertilisers as low-carbon inputs [S3][S4].
Administrative / Governance - Tests Panchayat-level convergence of Centre–State–ICAR machinery; KVK acts as last-mile science node [S1][S3]. - Concurrent delivery of scheme benefits (saturation approach) [S1].
Scientific / Technological - Mainstreams Nano-Urea, Nano-DAP, foliar sprays, soil-test–based recommendations [S4]. - Weather + market advisories link to Agri-Stack / Farmer ID rollout [S1].
6. Recent Developments (12–18 months)
- 29 May 2025: Launch of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan at ICAR-CIFA Bhubaneswar [S3].
- Aug 2025: SHC cumulative distribution crosses 25 crore [S2].
- 31 May 2026: Govt reviews fertiliser & fuel stocks amid West Asia crisis [S1].
- 1 June 2026: Khet Bachao Abhiyan launched from Raisen, MP [S1].
7. Prelims Hooks
- Khet Bachao Abhiyan duration: 1–30 June 2026 [S1].
- Launched from Ramsiya village, Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh [S1].
- Nodal ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (NOT Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers) [S1].
- Tagline: "Less fertiliser, right fertiliser, right advice" [S1].
- Four-tier implementation: Panchayat – KVK – ICAR – State Govt [S1].
- Soil Health Card scheme motto: "Swasth Dharaa, Khet Haraa", launched 2015 [S2].
- SHCs distributed by Jul 2025: >25 crore [S2].
- Predecessor outreach drive: Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, launched 29 May 2025 at ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar [S3].
- Nano-Urea ICAR-KVK trials on 94 crops → ~8% yield gain via foliar spray [S4].
- Ideal N:P:K ratio = 4:2:1 [S2].
- KVKs function under ICAR, an autonomous body under DARE, MoA&FW [S3].
8. Mains Relevance
- GS-III: Agriculture — Issues related to direct & indirect farm subsidies; e-technology for farmers; food security; storage & marketing.
- Possible stems: 1. "Balanced fertiliser use is as much a fiscal imperative as an ecological one." Examine in light of the Khet Bachao Abhiyan. 2. Discuss the role of KVKs and ICAR in achieving last-mile agricultural extension. How does the Khet Bachao Abhiyan model strengthen this architecture? 3. Critically evaluate India's strategy of substituting conventional urea with nano-fertilisers.
9. Related Topics to Study Next
- Soil Health Card Scheme — direct policy ancestor [S2].
- Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (2025) — model template [S3].
- Nano-Urea / Nano-DAP — core technology lever [S4].
- PM-PRANAM Scheme — incentivises states reducing chemical fertiliser use.
- Fertiliser Subsidy regime / NBS policy — fiscal context [S4].
- PMFBY & PM-KISAN — converging schemes [S1].
- Natural Farming Mission (NMNF) — complementary chemical-free push.
- Agri-Stack / Farmer ID — digital advisory backbone [S1].
10. Common Errors / Trap Areas
- Wrong ministry: It is MoA&FW, not the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, despite the fertiliser theme [S1].
- Confusion with VKSA (2025): Khet Bachao Abhiyan is a distinct 2026 campaign, not a renaming [S1][S3].
- Soil Health Card year: SHC launched 2015, not 2014 [S2].
- KVK parent body: KVKs sit under ICAR (autonomous, DARE), not directly under DA&FW.
- Nano-Urea misattribution: Developed by IFFCO, commercially launched 2021 — not an ICAR product [S4].
11. Sources
- [S1] Press Release — 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' to be carried out across the country from June 1 to June 30 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2266965 — (tier: 1)
- [S2] Soil Health Card "Swasth Dharaa, Khet Haraa" backgrounder — https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/aug/doc2025816613501.pdf — (tier: 1)
- [S3] Union Agriculture Minister Launches 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' at ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2132405 — (tier: 1)
- [S4] Year-end Review of the Department of Fertilizers — 2022 (Nano-urea, NBS, subsidy data) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1886054 — (tier: 1)