Agri schemes with 14 Tn outlay for modern farming approved

03 Sep 2024 CW Team

The Cabinet has approved seven schemes for the agricultural sector with an outlay of Rs 139.66 billion, aimed at modernising farming operations and making them more climate resilient by leveraging space and digital technology, managing natural resources more sustainably, strengthening agricultural extension centres, and utilising crop sciences to ensure food and nutritional security.

A key component of the programme is the Digital Agri Mission, which has been allocated Rs 28.17 billion. This initiative will create a robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for the agricultural sector by using Agri Stack, which includes a farmers registry, village land maps registry, and crop acreage registry, along with AI and Big Data.

The move includes a tech-based crop yield estimation system (YES-TECH), which is expected to eliminate the outdated practice of random sampling and visual assessments, methods that have been in use with various modifications since the Mughal period. Instead, the digital crop survey will use geospatial data to provide a clear picture of the crops being sown across all farmlands in the country during different agricultural seasons. This tech-based data will feed into the agriculture ministry's "Krishi-Decision Support System" (DSS), offering a single platform for all farm-related information, assisting both farmers and policymakers. Additionally, this data will ensure the quick disbursal of crop loans and insurance claims to farmers.

The scheme is built on six pillars, which include a focus on research and education, plant genetic resource management, genetic improvement for food and fodder crops, pulse and oilseed crop improvement, research on insects, microbes, and pollinators, and the improvement of commercial crops.

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

Mizoram To Build Rs 139 Billion Pumped Storage Power Plant

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday announced plans to construct a 2,400 MW pumped storage hydroelectric power plant in Hnahthial district, marking a major step towards achieving energy self-sufficiency in the state. Addressing the Mizo Students’ Union general conference in Hnahthial town, the Chief Minister said the plant would be developed across the Darzo Nallah, a tributary of the Tuipui river. Once operational, the project is expected to play a pivotal role in meeting Mizoram’s rising electricity demand and reducing dependence on imported power. Officials from the State Power..

Centre Plans Nationwide Opening Of Power Retail Market

India is preparing to open up its retail electricity market to private companies nationwide, effectively ending the long-standing monopoly of state-run power distributors in most regions, according to a draft bill released by the Union Power Ministry on Friday. The move will enable major private sector players — including Adani Enterprises, Tata Power, Torrent Power, and CESC — to expand their presence across the country’s electricity distribution landscape. A similar reform attempt in 2022 had faced strong opposition from state-run distribution companies (discoms), which currently dom..

CEA Sets 100 GW Nuclear Target For India By 2047

In a landmark step marking its 52nd Foundation Day, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) unveiled an ambitious roadmap to develop 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity by 2047, aligning with India’s long-term Net-Zero commitment and energy security objectives. The event, held at the Central Water Commission auditorium in New Delhi’s R.K. Puram, was attended by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, who served as the Chief Guest. The roadmap sets out a detailed plan to expand India’s nuclear capacity from its current level of approximately 8,180 MW as of early 2025, outl..