Published: 18 February 2026PIB / Social News XYZ / The Hans India / Free Press JournalRajasthan
Bharat-VISTAAR AI Agricultural Platform Launched in Jaipur, Rajasthan; Integrates 10 Government Schemes via Toll-Free 155261
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched 'Bharat-VISTAAR' (Bharat-Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) Phase-1 on February 17, 2026, at the State Institute of Agricultural Management, Durgapura, Jaipur, in the presence of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. The launch coincided with the India AI Impact Summit 2026, marking the application of AI to India's farm economy.
Bharat-VISTAAR is a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture — analogous to UPI in payments — integrating AgriStack (farmer registries, land records, crop data) with ICAR farm practice packages. Farmers can dial toll-free number 155261 and interact with the AI voice assistant 'Bharati' in Hindi and English, receiving instant personalised advice on weather, market prices, pest and disease management, soil health, crop selection, and access to government schemes. The platform integrates 10 central agricultural schemes including PM-KISAN and PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana).
Phase-1 covers Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. Alongside, Union Minister Chouhan launched the 'AI for Agriculture Roadmap', an 'AI Hackathon', and 'AgriKosh' — a centralised agricultural knowledge repository. For Rajasthan, where 70% of the population depends on agriculture and arid conditions create information gaps, Bharat-VISTAAR offers a transformative tool for empowering farmers with real-time, language-accessible advisory services.
Mains angle
Q: Discuss Bharat-VISTAAR as Digital Public Infrastructure for Indian agriculture and its transformative potential for Rajasthan's farmers.
Answer (50 words):
Launched on 17 February 2026 at Durgapura, Jaipur by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan alongside CM Bhajanlal Sharma, Bharat-VISTAAR lets farmers dial toll-free 155261 for AI assistant Bharati, integrating AgriStack with ten central schemes including PM-KISAN and PMFBY. Phase-1 covers Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar and Gujarat, delivering real-time advisory in Hindi and English.
6-axis classification
CoverageRajasthanTypeInitiativeSubjectScience & TechnologyExamBasic Computer Instructor · CET Graduation · CET Senior Secondary · EO/RO · LDC · Mahila Supervisor · Patwar · PTI · RAS · REET · RPSC SI · School Lecturer · Senior Computer Instructor · Senior Teacher · UPSC · Vanpal · BothSourcePIB / Social News XYZ / The Hans India / Free Press Journal
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Linked questionEasy
Which Rajasthan CM was present at the Bharat-VISTAAR AI launch in Jaipur?
Explanation · Correct answer DRajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma was present at the Bharat-VISTAAR AI launch in Jaipur.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bharat-VISTAAR and what is its primary purpose?
Bharat-VISTAAR is an AI-powered agricultural platform launched on February 17, 2026 in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Its primary purpose is to provide farmers with multilingual, AI-driven agricultural advice — covering crop advisory, weather updates, and mandi prices — by calling toll-free helpline number 155261, integrating 10 government schemes including PM-KISAN.
Who launched the Bharat-VISTAAR platform and in whose presence?
Bharat-VISTAAR was launched by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on February 17, 2026 in Jaipur, in the presence of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. The platform is a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) initiative under MeitY and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Which four states are covered in Phase-1 of Bharat-VISTAAR and what is its toll-free number?
Phase-1 of Bharat-VISTAAR covers Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Gujarat. Farmers in these states can access the platform's AI-powered services by calling the toll-free helpline number 155261, which is accessible even on basic feature phones.
How does Bharat-VISTAAR support last-mile rural connectivity for farmers?
Bharat-VISTAAR supports last-mile rural connectivity by being accessible via a toll-free telephone call (155261) and supporting multiple regional languages. Crucially, it works on basic feature phones — not just smartphones — ensuring farmers in remote areas without internet access can also benefit.
What government schemes are integrated into the Bharat-VISTAAR platform?
Bharat-VISTAAR integrates 10 government schemes including PM-KISAN, providing a single-window interface for farmers. This integration allows farmers to access crop advisory, weather updates, mandi prices, and scheme-related information through a single call to 155261.
