BHU Agriculture

24 August 2025
Current Affairs
1. Launch of the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)

What’s happening? On August 23, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the NMNF, backed by a ₹2,481 crore budget.

Objectives: Promote sustainable, eco-friendly farming, cover 750,000 hectares, and boost incomes of 10 million farmers.

Significance: Aligns with global and national push for climate-smart agriculture, and enhances livelihoods of rural farmers.

🌱 Agriculture Current Affairs – Quick Facts (23 August 2025)

1. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)

Launch: 23 August 2025 by PM Modi

Budget: ₹2,481 crore

Coverage: 7.5 lakh hectare, 1 crore farmers

Objective: Eco-friendly, low-cost, sustainable farming से farmers की income बढ़ाना।

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2. Shift in Agri Policy – Ethics & Self-Reliance

By: Agri Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi

Focus: From productivity-centric → ethical, sustainable farming

Priority: Self-reliance in pulses & oilseeds (दलहन-तिलहन में आत्मनिर्भरता).

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3. Foodgrain Procurement Reforms (Lucknow Workshop)

Organised by: Department of Food & Public Distribution

Aim: Procurement में digital integration

Tools: Agri-Stack, SCAN Module, CFPP, PCSAP

States: Focus on UP & Uttarakhand (part of 18 major procuring states).

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4. Parthenium Awareness Campaign (Jorhat, Assam)

Organised by: Assam Agricultural University (AAU) + ICAR

Issue: Health hazards (dermatitis, respiratory issues) + crop damage

Solution: Biological control → Mexican beetle demo.

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5. Punjab Procurement Trends

Paddy procurement decline: 186.11 LMT (2022-23) → 173.33 LMT (2024-25)

Wheat procurement increase: 96.45 LMT → 124.57 LMT

MSP Payment: DBT (One Nation, One MSP) system.

🌱 PIB Agriculture Current Affairs – Quick Facts (23 August 2025)

1. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)

Launch: 23 August 2025 by PM Modi

Budget: ₹2,481 crore

Coverage: 7.5 lakh hectare, 1 crore farmers

Linked Schemes: Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana & Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (3 Oct–18 Oct 2025).
👉 उद्देश्य: Eco-friendly, low-cost, sustainable farming को बढ़ावा देना।

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2. Simplified Crop Insurance Claims

Kharif 2025 से नया system लागू।

Central subsidy पहले दी जाएगी (states का इंतजार नहीं)।

Delay by state/insurance company = 12% penalty.
👉 किसानों को तेज़ और पारदर्शी claim settlement मिलेगा।

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3. Fertiliser Availability (Kharif 2025)

Urea, DAP, MoP, NPKS की देशभर में पर्याप्त उपलब्धता।

Govt ने confirm किया कि no shortage reported.
👉 Exam Point: Fertiliser distribution = key governance issue.

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4. Agricultural Output & Budget Growth

Foodgrain Production:

2013–14 → 246.42 million tonnes

2024–25 (3rd Advance Estimate) → 353.96 million tonnes

Agri Budget:

2013–14 → ₹21,933.5 crore

2025–26 → ₹1,37,756.55 crore
👉 संकेत: Govt focus on agri-investment & self-reliance.

Kumar
pal

🌾 Agriculture Current Affairs – 22 August 2025 (Quick Facts)

1. India–Russia Agri Trade

भारत–रूस व्यापार में कृषि और फार्मा एक्सपोर्ट को बढ़ावा।

उद्देश्य: Balanced और Sustainable व्यापारिक संबंध।
(Source: Economic Times)

2. Maharashtra Kharif Crop Damage

भारी वर्षा से 5.5 लाख हेक्टेयर फसल प्रभावित (17 जिले)।

प्रमुख फसलें: Soybean, Cotton, Maize।

सबसे ज़्यादा नुकसान: नांदेड (2.6 लाख ha)।

मुआवज़ा: NDRF norms के तहत जिला कलेक्टर द्वारा।
(Source: TOI Pune)

3. NABARD – Agriculture Credit Projection

FY25: ₹28 लाख करोड़ → FY26 अनुमान: ₹32 लाख करोड़।

वृद्धि दर: लगभग 14%।

लक्ष्य: कृषि उत्पादकता और ग्रामीण विकास को वित्तीय सहयोग।
(Source: TOI Business)

4. National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)

Launch: 23 अगस्त 2025 (PM Modi)।

बजट: ₹2,481 करोड़।

कवरेज: 7.5 लाख हेक्टेयर, ~1 करोड़ किसान।

फोकस: Sustainable और Eco-friendly खेती।
(Source: TOI Business)

🌾 MCQs – Agriculture Current Affairs (Set 2)

Q6.
Which High Court recently lifted the ban on notified hybrid rice seeds?
किस उच्च न्यायालय ने हाल ही में अधिसूचित हाइब्रिड धान बीजों पर लगे प्रतिबंध को हटाया है?

a) Delhi High Court
b) Allahabad High Court
c) Punjab and Haryana High Court
d) Rajasthan High Court

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Q7.
Rajasthan government proposed that 65% of treated wastewater should be reused for:
राजस्थान सरकार ने प्रस्ताव दिया है कि 65% शुद्ध किया हुआ अपशिष्ट जल किसके लिए पुन: उपयोग होना चाहिए?

a) Drinking water
b) Industrial use
c) Agriculture irrigation
d) Urban sanitation

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Q8.
Which state is leveraging agriculture as a major driver to achieve a $1 trillion economy target?
कौन सा राज्य $1 ट्रिलियन अर्थव्यवस्था लक्ष्य हासिल करने में कृषि को प्रमुख चालक मान रहा है?

a) Maharashtra
b) Uttar Pradesh
c) Gujarat
d) Karnataka

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Q9.
How many Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) sites are in India as recognized by FAO?
FAO द्वारा मान्यता प्राप्त भारत में कुल कितने वैश्विक कृषि धरोहर प्रणाली (GIAHS) स्थल हैं?

a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5

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Q10.
Assam Agricultural University (AAU), recently praised by Union MoS, celebrated its:
असम कृषि विश्वविद्यालय (AAU), जिसकी हाल ही में केंद्रीय राज्यमंत्री ने प्रशंसा की, ने अपनी कौन-सी वर्षगांठ मनाई?

a) 50th Foundation Day
b) 60th Foundation Day
c) 70th Foundation Day
d) 78th Foundation Day

🌾 MCQs – Agriculture Current Affairs (21 August 2025)

Q1.
Which state’s paddy procurement for central pool has been declining since 2022–23, as per Lok Sabha data?
किस राज्य की धान खरीद केंद्रीय पूल के लिए 2022–23 से लगातार घट रही है (लोकसभा डेटा के अनुसार)?

a) Haryana
b) Punjab
c) Uttar Pradesh
d) Bihar

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Q2.
India recently signed a 5-year fertilizer export agreement with which country’s National Seed Centre?
भारत ने हाल ही में किस देश के राष्ट्रीय बीज केंद्र के साथ 5-वर्षीय उर्वरक निर्यात समझौता किया है?

a) Nepal
b) Bhutan
c) Bangladesh
d) Sri Lanka

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Q3.
IIIT-Allahabad developed an AI-based real-time crop disease detection system with an accuracy of approximately:
IIIT-इलाहाबाद ने एआई आधारित रीयल-टाइम फसल रोग पहचान प्रणाली विकसित की है, जिसकी सटीकता लगभग कितनी है?

a) 87%
b) 92%
c) 97%
d) 99%

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Q4.
The PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana launched in 2025 will provide how much annual funding?
2025 में शुरू हुई प्रधानमंत्री धन-धान्य कृषि योजना के तहत वार्षिक फंडिंग कितनी होगी?

a) ₹12,000 crore
b) ₹18,000 crore
c) ₹24,000 crore
d) ₹36,000 crore

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Q5.
Which university recently won 4 national awards for climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable farming?
किस विश्वविद्यालय को हाल ही में जलवायु-लचीली कृषि और सतत खेती के लिए 4 राष्ट्रीय पुरस्कार मिले?

a) Assam Agricultural University
b) Bihar Agricultural University
c) Punjab Agricultural University
d) Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

🌾 Agriculture Current Affairs – 21 August 2025 (Quick Facts)


& Policies

*PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (July 2025)

₹24,000 crore annually (2025–26 से 6 साल तक)।

36 schemes का एकीकरण (crop diversification, irrigation, infra, credit, sustainability)।

Coverage: ~1.7 करोड़ किसान।
(Source: PIB)

*Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

India: 3 sites – Koraput (Odisha), Kuttanad (Kerala), Saffron (Kashmir)।

Support via RKVY & MIDH.
(Source: PIB)

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, Seeds & Technology

*Rajasthan minister ने केंद्र से मांग की: खराब seeds/fertilizer/pesticide से नुकसान पर किसानों को compensation का कानून।
(TOI, Jaipur)

*Hybrid rice ban lifted (Punjab & Haryana HC) → Higher yield, water saving, only notified seeds allowed.
(TOI, Chandigarh)

*IIIT-Allahabad ने बनाया AI + IoT आधारित crop disease detection system → 97.25% accuracy, local language app जल्द उपलब्ध।
(TOI, Allahabad)

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& Procurement

*Paddy procurement in Punjab declined

186.11 LMT (2022–23) → 173.33 LMT (2024–25)।

*Wheat procurement बढ़ा (96.45 → 124.57 LMT)।
(TOI, Chandigarh)

*India–Bhutan Agreement: BVFCL to export fertilizer to Bhutan’s National Seed Centre (5-year deal)।
(Economic Times)

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-Level Initiatives

*Rajasthan: 65% treated wastewater agriculture में reuse करने का प्रस्ताव।

*Uttar Pradesh:

$1 trillion economy target में agriculture का मुख्य योगदान।

₹90,000 crore disbursed (PM-Kisan), free tubewell power, irrigation expansion (PMKSY)।

*Bihar Agricultural University: National awards (climate resilient agriculture, organic, water mgmt., waste mgmt.)।

*Assam Agricultural University: New biotech & high-yield programs, praised at 78th foundation day

Agriculture Quick Facts – 20 August 2025 🌾 (from PIB, The Hindu, TOI, ET, Reuters etc.) — useful for UPSC, NABARD, AFO, and other agri exams:

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🌿 Quick Facts

1. Rajasthan Wastewater Policy

State mandates 65% reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation.

Aim: Promote water conservation & sustainable agriculture.

2. Cotton Import Duty Waiver

Govt removes 11% duty on cotton imports (valid: 19 Aug–30 Sep 2025).

Relief for garment & textile exporters facing US tariff hikes.

3. Marathwada–Vidarbha Crop Losses

Heavy rains damaged 5.5 lakh hectares of kharif crops (soybean, cotton, maize).

Nanded worst-hit (2.6 lakh ha affected).

Compensation to be given under NDRF norms.

4. BVFCL–Bhutan Fertilizer Agreement

5-year deal between Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corp. (India) and Bhutan’s National Seed Centre.

Boosts Indo-Bhutan agri-trade & cooperation.

🌾 Agriculture Current Affairs – Quick Facts (19 Aug 2025)

📌 Government & Policy (PIB)

National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF):

> 10 lakh+ farmers enrolled, 1,100 model farms, 806 training institutions active.
(Source: PIB)

e-NAM Expansion:

> 1,522 mandis integrated, trade ↑ 21% (volume), 22% (value).
(Source: PIB)

Fertilizer Subsidy (Kharif 2025):

> ₹37,216 crore approved (₹13,000 crore ↑ from Rabi); Namrup-IV revival sanctioned at ₹10,601 crore.
(Source: PIB)

PM’s Independence Day 2025 Announcements:

> New “PM Dhanya Dhanya Krishi Yojana”; focus on fertilizer self-reliance. India ranks #1 in milk, pulses, jute; #2 in rice, wheat, cotton, fruits, vegetables.
(Source: PIB)

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📌 Court & Legal

Punjab & Haryana HC on PUSA-44 Paddy Hybrid Ban:

> Blanket ban illegal; notified hybrids cannot be restricted arbitrarily.
(Source: Hindustan Times, 19 Aug 2025)

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📌 Technology & Innovation

Drone Didis in Punjab (NAMO Scheme):

> 1,021 drones allocated to Punjab; a woman pilot earned ₹1.75 lakh in 7 months.
(Source: Hindustan Times, 19 Aug 2025)

Rajasthan Cloud Seeding via Drone:

> Trial delayed due to DGCA altitude limit (400 ft vs needed 10,000 ft).
(Source: TOI, 19 Aug 2025)

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📌 Climate & Crop Loss

Maharashtra Heavy Rainfall:

> 7 deaths, 4 lakh ha crops affected; red/orange alerts in 15–16 districts.
(Source: TOI, 19 Aug 2025)

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📌 State Initiatives

New Agri University in Sambalpur, Odisha:

> 4 proposed colleges: Veterinary, Dairy Tech, Fisheries, Agri-Business.
(Source: TOI, 19 Aug 2025)

Annadata Sukhibhava Scheme (AP):

> Deadline 20 Aug; farmers get ₹27,000 (₹25k state + ₹2k PM-Kisan).
(Source: TOI, 19 Aug 2025)

Jharkhand Agri Lending:

> Banks gave only 15.13% to agri vs 18% RBI norm; SBI & others