- Agriculture supports nearly half of India's workforce, so farm and rural schemes are tested in almost every exam, especially UPSC, State PSCs and NABARD/RBI papers.
- Most farm schemes are run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; most rural schemes by the Ministry of Rural Development.
- Learn each scheme with its tagline — exams often ask "'Har Khet Ko Pani' is the motto of which scheme?".
Income and Insurance for Farmers
| Scheme | Launched | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| PM-KISAN | February 24, 2019 (Gorakhpur); benefits counted from December 2018 | ₹6,000 a year to eligible landholding farmer families in three instalments of ₹2,000, paid directly into bank accounts; fully funded by the Centre |
| PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) | 2016 | Crop insurance with low farmer premiums: 2% for kharif crops, 1.5% for rabi crops and 5% for commercial and horticultural crops; the rest is shared by the Centre and states. Enrolment is voluntary for all farmers since 2020 |
| PM Kisan Maan-dhan | 2019 | Voluntary pension of ₹3,000 a month at 60 for small and marginal farmers aged 18–40 |
| Kisan Credit Card | 1998 | Short-term crop loans from banks; extended to animal husbandry and fisheries farmers in 2018–19 |
Soil, Water and Markets
- Soil Health Card (February 19, 2015, Suratgarh, Rajasthan) — tests soil and recommends nutrients and fertiliser doses for each farm.
- PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (2015) — motto "Har Khet Ko Pani" (water to every field) and "More Crop Per Drop" (micro-irrigation).
- e-NAM (April 14, 2016) — an online trading platform linking regulated mandis (APMCs) across states; run by the Small Farmers' Agribusiness Consortium.
- Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (2015) — promotes organic farming through farmer clusters.
- Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (2020) — ₹1 lakh crore financing facility for post-harvest infrastructure such as cold storage and warehouses.
PM-KISAN₹6,000/yr in 3 parts
PMFBY kharif premium2%
PMFBY rabi premium1.5%
Soil Health CardFeb 19, 2015
e-NAMApril 14, 2016
Jal Jeevan MissionAug 15, 2019
Rural Employment
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005) guaranteed 100 days of wage work a year to every rural household whose adults volunteer for unskilled manual work. It has been replaced by the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, which raises the guarantee to 125 days a year. Check the latest notification for implementation details.
Housing, Water and Sanitation
| Scheme | Launched | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| PM Awas Yojana – Gramin | November 20, 2016 (Agra) | Pucca houses with basic amenities for rural households who are homeless or live in kutcha houses; replaced the Indira Awaas Yojana |
| Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) | October 2, 2014 | Ending open defecation; Phase II (2020–25) focuses on solid and liquid waste management (ODF Plus) |
| Jal Jeevan Mission | August 15, 2019 | A functional household tap connection ("Har Ghar Jal") to every rural household; run by the Ministry of Jal Shakti |
| PM Gram Sadak Yojana | December 25, 2000 | All-weather road connectivity to unconnected rural habitations |
| SVAMITVA | April 24, 2020 (National Panchayati Raj Day) | Drone mapping of village residential land to give owners a property card |
Rural Livelihoods
- Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), launched in June 2011 as "Aajeevika", organises poor rural women into self-help groups and links them to bank credit.
- Its Lakhpati Didi initiative aims to help SHG women earn at least ₹1 lakh a year; the target is 3 crore women.
- Namo Drone Didi (2023) gives drones to women SHGs to provide agricultural services such as spraying fertiliser.
- Numbers: PM-KISAN (₹6,000 in three parts), PMFBY premiums (2 / 1.5 / 5%), rural job guarantee (100 → 125 days).
- Tagline ↔ scheme: "Har Khet Ko Pani" (PMKSY), "Har Ghar Jal" (Jal Jeevan Mission).
- Ministry questions: Jal Jeevan → Jal Shakti; PMAY-G and DAY-NRLM → Rural Development; SVAMITVA → Panchayati Raj.
Q1. Under PMFBY, the farmer's premium for rabi food and oilseed crops is:
✅ Answer: (b) 1.5%
💡 Explanation: Farmers pay 2% for kharif, 1.5% for rabi and 5% for commercial and horticultural crops.
Q2. "Har Khet Ko Pani" is the motto of:
✅ Answer: (a) PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
💡 Explanation: PMKSY aims to expand irrigation to every field.
Q3. The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide:
✅ Answer: (d) A tap water connection to every rural household
💡 Explanation: Its goal is a functional household tap connection — "Har Ghar Jal".
Q4. PM-KISAN provides eligible farmer families with:
✅ Answer: (b) ₹6,000 a year in three instalments
💡 Explanation: Three instalments of ₹2,000 are paid directly into bank accounts.
Q5. The SVAMITVA scheme uses drones to:
✅ Answer: (c) Map village residential land and issue property cards
💡 Explanation: Launched on April 24, 2020, it gives rural households a legal record of their property.
🔁 Revise in 60 Seconds
- PM-KISAN 2019: ₹6,000/yr in 3 × ₹2,000.
- PMFBY 2016: 2% kharif, 1.5% rabi, 5% commercial; voluntary since 2020.
- Soil Health Card 2015 (Suratgarh); PMKSY 2015 (Har Khet Ko Pani); e-NAM 2016.
- JJM 2019 (Har Ghar Jal); PMAY-G 2016; SBM-G 2014; DAY-NRLM 2011; SVAMITVA 2020.
📌 Prelims Traps to Avoid
- ✘ PM-KISAN is 100% centrally funded; PMFBY premiums are shared by the Centre and states.
- ✘ Jal Jeevan Mission is about drinking water, not irrigation.
- ✘ e-NAM links existing mandis online; it does not replace them.
What is the farmer's premium under PM Fasal Bima Yojana?
2% of the sum insured for kharif crops, 1.5% for rabi crops and 5% for annual commercial and horticultural crops. The remaining premium is paid by the Centre and the states.
How much money do farmers get under PM-KISAN?
₹6,000 a year per eligible farmer family, paid in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 directly into their bank accounts.