Government Schemes for
Agriculture & Rural Development
Complete list of high-yield schemes with objectives, features, ministries, and NABARD relevance — essential for Phase 1 & Phase 2.
Why Schemes Matter for NABARD Grade A
Government schemes related to agriculture, rural development, farmer welfare, and financial inclusion are among the most frequently asked topics in both ARD and ESI sections of NABARD Grade A (Phase 1 MCQs + Phase 2 descriptive).
Tip: Always revise schemes with latest Budget allocations, recent extensions, and any NABARD-specific linkages (RIDF, interest subvention, SHG-BLP, AIF refinancing, etc.).
Agriculture & Farmer Welfare Schemes
PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi)
Ministry: Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | Launched: Feb 2019 | Type: Central Sector
- ₹6,000 per year in 3 equal instalments of ₹2,000 via DBT
- For landholding farmer families with cultivable land
- 23rd instalment (June 2026): ~₹18,880 crore to 9.44 crore farmers
- Cumulative: Over ₹4.46 lakh crore
- Extended till 2030-31 with ₹3.15 lakh crore outlay
PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana)
Ministry: Agriculture | Launched: 2016
- Crop insurance from pre-sowing to post-harvest
- Farmer premium: 2% (Kharif), 1.5% (Rabi), 5% (commercial/horti)
- Balance premium shared by Centre & States
- Covers yield loss, prevented sowing, post-harvest losses, localized calamities
- Includes Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS)
e-NAM (National Agriculture Market)
Ministry: Agriculture | Launched: 2016
- Pan-India electronic trading portal for agricultural commodities
- Integrates existing APMC mandis into a unified national market
- Promotes price discovery, transparency, and reduced intermediation
- Quality assaying and online payment features
Soil Health Card Scheme
Ministry: Agriculture | Launched: 2015
- Provides farmers with soil nutrient status and fertilizer recommendations
- Issued every 2 years for all landholdings
- Promotes balanced use of fertilizers and soil health improvement
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
Ministry: Agriculture | Launched: 2020 | Corpus: ₹1 lakh crore
- 3% interest subvention on loans up to ₹2 crore for 7 years
- Credit guarantee support (CGTMSE)
- For post-harvest management (warehouses, cold storage, processing, etc.) and community farming assets
- NABARD is a key implementing/refinancing agency
- Eligible: Farmers, FPOs, SHGs, PACS, agri-entrepreneurs, etc.
PM-FME (Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises)
Ministry: Food Processing Industries
- Supports formalization of micro food processing units
- Credit-linked capital subsidy, capacity building, branding & marketing support
- Focus on One District One Product (ODOP)
Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
Introduced: 1998 | Interest Subvention Scheme
- Short-term credit for cultivation and allied activities
- Interest subvention: Effective 4% on prompt repayment (up to certain limit)
- Collateral-free up to specified limits
- Also available for animal husbandry and fisheries
PMKSY (Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana)
Ministry: Multiple (Jal Shakti, Agriculture, etc.) | Launched: 2015
- Har Khet Ko Pani + Per Drop More Crop
- Components: AIBP, HKKP, WDC, PDMC (micro-irrigation)
- Micro-irrigation coverage under PDMC: Over 115 lakh hectares
Rural Development & Livelihood Schemes
MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA)
Ministry: Rural Development | Act: 2005 | Implemented: 2006
- Legal guarantee of 100 days of unskilled wage employment per rural household per year
- Demand-driven; works decided by Gram Panchayat
- 60:40 wage:material ratio; unemployment allowance if work not provided
- Focus on water conservation, drought-proofing, rural infrastructure
DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – NRLM)
Ministry: Rural Development | Launched: 2011 (as NRLM)
- Organizes rural poor (especially women) into Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
- Over 90 lakh SHGs covering ~10 crore women households
- Revolving Fund, Community Investment Fund, bank linkage
- Interest subvention: Effective 7% (additional 3% on prompt repayment in select districts)
- Strong linkage with NABARD’s SHG-Bank Linkage Programme
PMAY-G (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin)
Ministry: Rural Development
- Housing for rural poor (homeless and those in kutcha houses)
- Financial assistance for construction of pucca houses
- Convergence with MGNREGA, SBM, etc. for other facilities
PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana)
Ministry: Rural Development | Launched: 2000
- All-weather road connectivity to unconnected rural habitations
- Focus on last-mile connectivity and quality infrastructure
Jal Jeevan Mission
Ministry: Jal Shakti
- Functional household tap connection (FHTC) to every rural household
- Target: 55 litres per capita per day of potable water
- Community participation and water quality monitoring
Swachh Bharat Mission – Gramin (SBM-G)
Ministry: Jal Shakti
- Open Defecation Free (ODF) villages and sustainable sanitation
- Phase II focuses on solid & liquid waste management
Credit, Infrastructure & NABARD-Linked Schemes
RIDF (Rural Infrastructure Development Fund)
Managed by NABARD | Created: 1995-96
- Loans to State Governments for incomplete rural infrastructure projects
- Covers minor irrigation, watershed, rural roads, cold storage, markets, etc.
- Funded from shortfall in Priority Sector Lending by banks
- Cumulative allocation has crossed ₹5.6 lakh crore
SHG-Bank Linkage Programme (SHG-BLP)
Pioneered by NABARD | Launched: 1992
- World’s largest microfinance programme
- Links informal women SHGs to formal banking system (savings & credit)
- Over 145 lakh savings-linked SHGs (majority exclusive women groups)
- Strong convergence with DAY-NRLM
Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF)
Under NABARD
- Dedicated fund to promote micro-irrigation
- Loans to States at concessional rates
- Supports expansion of drip & sprinkler irrigation
Interest Subvention Scheme
For short-term crop loans
- Ensures farmers get short-term credit at effective low rates
- Additional incentive for prompt repayment
- NABARD plays a role in channelizing subvention
Allied Sector Schemes (Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, etc.)
National Livestock Mission (NLM)
Ministry: Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
- Sustainable development of livestock sector
- Entrepreneurship development, breed improvement, fodder, etc.
PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana)
Ministry: Fisheries
- Holistic development of fisheries sector
- Infrastructure, production, value chain, and welfare of fishers
Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)
Ministry: Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
- Interest subvention and credit guarantee for dairy, meat processing, animal feed, etc.
Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (DEDS) / Related
Earlier schemes; NABARD involvement
- Support for setting up small dairy units and related infrastructure
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