Agriculture in Budget

Agriculture in Budget 2025-26 With Best MCQs

Union Budget 2026–27: Agriculture Sector Analysis (Exam Oriented)

India’s agriculture policy is shifting from a subsidy-driven system to infrastructure, technology and value-chain based growth. Budget 2026–27 focuses on digital agriculture, high-value crops, allied sectors, export promotion and rural infrastructure to increase farmer income and global competitiveness.

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1. Agriculture Budget Allocation

Agriculture spending is spread across multiple ministries, not only the Agriculture Ministry.

👉 This shows agriculture policy works through a multi-ministry framework.

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2. Major Focus Areas in Budget 2026

High-Value Agriculture

Promotion of crops such as

• Coconut

• Cocoa

• Cashew

• Almonds

• Walnuts

• Pine nuts

Key initiatives:

• Coconut Promotion Scheme

• National Fibre Scheme (silk, wool, jute)

Purpose: increase farm income and exports.

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3. Digital Agriculture

Bharat-VISTAAR Platform

AI-based digital advisory system integrating AgriStack and ICAR data.

Benefits:

• Real-time advisory

• Precision farming

• Location-specific recommendations

Allocation: ₹150 crore

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4. Growth of Allied Sectors

Livestock and fisheries are becoming major drivers of agricultural growth.

Key data:

• Livestock CAGR: 12.77%

• Fish production increased from 95.79 lakh tonnes (2013-14) to 197.75 lakh tonnes (2024-25)

These sectors help diversify farmer income and reduce monsoon risk.

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5. Blue Economy – Fisheries Development

Key measures:

• Integration of 500 reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars into fisheries value chain

• Duty-free fish catch in Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

Goal: increase seafood exports.

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6. Natural Farming Promotion

National Mission on Natural Farming

Allocation: ₹750 crore

Target:

• Cover 1 crore farmers

• Establish bio-input resource centres

Purpose: improve soil health and reduce fertilizer dependency.

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7. Women Empowerment in Agriculture

Namo-Didi Drone Scheme

Allocation: ₹1,261 crore

• 15,000 drones to women SHGs
• Drone spraying covers 1 acre in 7–8 minutes

Also proposed: SHE-Marts to market products of women SHGs.

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8. Major Challenges in Agriculture

1️⃣ Climate change and extreme weather
2️⃣ Disguised unemployment (57.7% rural workforce in agriculture)
3️⃣ Imbalanced fertilizer use (NPK ratio 10.9:4.1:1)
4️⃣ MSP procurement limited mainly to wheat and rice
5️⃣ Small landholdings (average 1.08 ha)
6️⃣ Post-harvest losses about ₹92,651 crore annually
7️⃣ High edible oil import dependence
8️⃣ Groundwater depletion

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9. Measures Needed

• Expand AgriStack digital agriculture system
• Promote AI-based precision farming
• Encourage crop diversification
• Improve cold storage and logistics
• Promote climate-smart agriculture
• Strengthen allied sectors like livestock and fisheries

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Conclusion

Budget 2026 highlights a shift toward technology-driven, market-linked and diversified agriculture. Growth of allied sectors, digital platforms like Bharat-VISTAAR, and infrastructure investment will be crucial for stable farmer incomes and sustainable agricultural growth.

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Quick Exam Points

• Agriculture Ministry allocation: ₹1.40 lakh crore
• Fertiliser subsidy: ₹1.70 lakh crore
• Bharat-VISTAAR: AI advisory platform
• Natural Farming Mission: ₹750 crore
• Namo-Didi Drone Scheme: ₹1,261 crore
• Post-harvest losses: ₹92,651 crore annually

Agriculture in Budget MCQs:-

Q1. What is the total allocation for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare in Budget 2026–27?

1. ₹1.20 lakh crore
2. ₹1.30 lakh crore
3. ₹1.40 lakh crore
4. ₹1.70 lakh crore

Answer: C

 

Q2. Which ministry manages fertilizer subsidies in India?

1. Ministry of Agriculture
2. Ministry of Rural Development
3. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers
4. Ministry of Commerce

Answer: C

 

Q3. What is the allocation for the Department of Fertilisers in Budget 2026–27?

1. ₹1.40 lakh crore
2. ₹1.50 lakh crore
3. ₹1.70 lakh crore
4. ₹1.97 lakh crore

Answer: C

 

Q4. The Bharat-VISTAAR platform introduced in Budget 2026 is related to?

1. Crop insurance
2. AI-based agricultural advisory
3. Fertilizer subsidy
4. Agricultural export policy

Answer: B

 

Q5. Bharat-VISTAAR integrates agricultural data from which organization?

1. FAO
2. ICAR
3. WTO
4. NABARD

Answer: B

 

Q6. Which scheme aims to improve coconut productivity in India?

1. Coconut Development Scheme
2. Coconut Promotion Scheme
3. Coconut Productivity Mission
4. National Coconut Program

Answer: B

 

Q7. The National Fibre Scheme focuses on which sectors?

1. Food grains
2. Plantation crops
3. Natural and man-made fibres
4. Oilseeds

Answer: C

 

Q8. Which of the following crops are promoted as high-value plantation crops in Budget 2026?

1. Coconut
2. Cocoa
3. Cashew
4. Walnuts
5. 1 and 2 only
6. 1, 2 and 3 only
7. 2, 3 and 4 only
8. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: D

 

Q9. Which ministry administers fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy sectors?

1. Ministry of Agriculture
2. Ministry of Rural Development
3. Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
4. Ministry of Commerce

Answer: C

 

Q10. What is the allocation for the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in Budget 2026–27?

7. ₹7.54 thousand crore
8. ₹8.90 thousand crore
9. ₹10.20 thousand crore
10. ₹12.00 thousand crore

Answer: B

 

Q11. Which mission promotes chemical-free farming practices in India?

1. National Organic Mission
2. National Mission on Natural Farming
3. Sustainable Agriculture Mission
4. Zero Chemical Mission

Answer: B

 

Q12. What is the budget allocation for the National Mission on Natural Farming in Budget 2026–27?

1. ₹500 crore
2. ₹650 crore
3. ₹750 crore
4. ₹900 crore

Answer: C

 

Q13. The Namo-Didi Drone Scheme is mainly aimed at:

1. Fertilizer subsidy distribution
2. Providing drones to women SHGs
3. Crop insurance monitoring
4. Seed distribution

Answer: B

 

Q14. How many drones are proposed under the Namo-Didi scheme?

1. 5,000
2. 10,000
3. 15,000
4. 20,000

Answer: C

 

Q15. What is the allocation for the Namo-Didi Drone Scheme?

1. ₹750 crore
2. ₹1,000 crore
3. ₹1,261 crore
4. ₹2,000 crore

Answer: C

 

Q16. SHE-Marts proposed in Budget 2026 are related to:

1. Fertilizer marketing
2. Women SHG retail outlets
3. Export promotion
4. Agricultural mechanization

Answer: B

 

Q17. The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) mainly supports:

1. Crop insurance
2. Farm mechanization
3. Post-harvest infrastructure
4. Fertilizer subsidy

Answer: C

 

Q18. According to recent estimates, India loses approximately how much annually due to post-harvest losses?

1. ₹50,000 crore
2. ₹75,000 crore
3. ₹92,651 crore
4. ₹1.5 lakh crore

Answer: C

 

Q19. Which ratio represents the nutrient consumption imbalance in Indian agriculture?

1. 4:2:1
2. 6:3:2
3. 10.9:4.1:1
4. 8:4:2

Answer: C

 

Q20. What is the ideal N:P:K ratio recommended for balanced fertilizer use?

1. 4:2:1
2. 5:3:1
3. 6:3:2
4. 8:4:1

Answer: A

 

Q21. What percentage of rural workforce is engaged in agriculture according to PLFS 2025?

1. 45%
2. 50%
3. 57.7%
4. 65%

Answer: C

 

Q22. What is the average operational landholding size in India?

1. 0.75 hectare
2. 1.08 hectares
3. 1.75 hectares
4. 2.50 hectares

Answer: B

 

Q23. What percentage of farmers in India are small and marginal farmers?

1. 60%
2. 70%
3. 86%
4. 92%

Answer: C

 

Q24. Which scheme provides crop insurance to farmers in India?

1. PMKSY
2. PMFBY
3. PMGSY
4. PMAY

Answer: B

 

Q25. What is the allocation for PMFBY in Budget 2026–27?

1. ₹10,000 crore
2. ₹12,200 crore
3. ₹15,000 crore
4. ₹18,000 crore

Answer: B

 

Q26. Fish production in India increased to how much in FY 2024–25?

1. 150 lakh tonnes
2. 170 lakh tonnes
3. 197.75 lakh tonnes
4. 220 lakh tonnes

Answer: C

 

Q27. India is the largest producer of which crop globally?

1. Wheat
2. Rice
3. Millets
4. Sugarcane

Answer: C

 

Q28. Which initiative aims to create 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations in India?

1. FPO Development Mission
2. Central Sector Scheme for FPOs
3. Agricultural Cooperative Mission
4. Farmer Producer Support Scheme

Answer: B

 

Q29. How many reservoirs and Amrit Sarovars are proposed to be integrated into the fisheries value chain?

1. 200
2. 300
3. 500
4. 700

Answer: C

 

Q30. The main policy shift in Budget 2026 agriculture sector is from?

1. Food security to crop diversification
2. Subsidy-driven agriculture to value-chain driven agriculture
3. Agriculture to manufacturing
4. Irrigation to fertilizer subsidies

Answer: B

Agriculture in Budget

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