Khet Bachao Abhiyan: ICAR’s Campaign for Soil-Test-Based Nutrient Management and Less Urea – Practices, PM-PRANAM, MCQs and Facts

Context

• ICAR announced major achievements under the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan, run through capacity-building, field demonstrations and multi-platform outreach that reportedly reached over 2.7 crore citizens.
• Lead agency: ICAR; parent department: DARE, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Aims of the Abhiyan

• Promote soil-test-based nutrient management.
• Reduce excessive dependence on chemical fertilisers, especially urea.
• Improve soil fertility and sustainable productivity.
• Encourage environmentally responsible farming practices.

Practices Promoted

• Green manuring: in-situ ploughing of leguminous crops such as dhaincha and sunhemp to enrich the soil with nitrogen and organic matter.
• Bio-fertilisers: microorganism-based inputs – Rhizobium, Azotobacter, phosphate-solubilising bacteria (PSB).
• Organic nutrient sources: compost, vermicompost and farmyard manure.
• Soil-test-based fertiliser recommendations instead of blanket doses.

Policy Connections

• Soil Health Card scheme (2015): soil testing and crop-wise nutrient recommendations for every holding.
• PM-PRANAM (2023): the PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth, run by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, shares part of the subsidy savings with states that cut chemical fertiliser use, for alternative fertilisers, organic and natural farming.
• Dalhan Aatmanirbharta Mission (October 2025): self-sufficiency in pulses, which are nitrogen-fixing crops.
• The fertiliser subsidy of about Rs 2 lakh crore a year, a large share of which is lost to inefficient use.

Background Concepts

• ICAR: autonomous body under DARE; established 1929 as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research; headquartered in New Delhi; coordinates research, education and extension through about 113 research institutes, 74 agricultural universities and 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras at the district level.
• Integrated Nutrient Management (INM): combining chemical fertilisers, organic manures, bio-fertilisers and crop residues on the basis of soil tests and crop needs, to maintain fertility, raise nutrient-use efficiency and minimise environmental damage.
• Why urea is over-used: it is the cheapest, most heavily subsidised nutrient, so the N:P:K use ratio in India is badly skewed against the ideal 4:2:1.

Practice MCQs

• Q1. Khet Bachao Abhiyan: (1) launched by ICAR under DARE; (2) promotes soil-test-based nutrient management and less chemical fertiliser; (3) includes capacity-building, demonstrations and outreach; (4) reached over 2.7 crore citizens. Answer: all four correct.
• Q2. ICAR: (1) autonomous body under DARE; (2) established 1929 as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research; (3) headquartered in New Delhi; (4) KVKs operate under ICAR at the district level. Answer: all four correct.
• Q3. INM: (1) combines chemical, organic, bio-fertilisers and residues on soil tests; (2) aims at nutrient-use efficiency and less environmental damage; (3) bio-fertilisers include Rhizobium, Azotobacter, PSB; (4) green manuring is in-situ ploughing of legumes. Answer: all four correct.
• Q4. PM-PRANAM: (1) stands for Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth; (2) launched by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers; (3) shares subsidy savings with states that cut fertiliser use; (4) funds can go to alternative fertilisers, organic and natural farming. Answer: all four correct.

FAQs

Is Khet Bachao Abhiyan a subsidy scheme?

No. It is an awareness and extension campaign; the financial incentive to reduce fertiliser use comes through PM-PRANAM.

What is a Krishi Vigyan Kendra?

A district-level farm science centre under ICAR that tests and demonstrates technologies and trains farmers.

Why is this important for NABARD Grade A?

Soil health, fertiliser policy and ICAR’s institutions are among the most frequently asked ARD topics.