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Economy

Current Affairs Integration

Agriculture: Production, Water Resources, Irrigation, Animal Husbandry, Farmer Welfare Schemes

Paper I · Unit 2 Section 12 of 14 0 PYQs 40 min
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Current Affairs Integration

Recent Developments

  • ERCP declared National Project (2023): Changed funding pattern from 100% state to 60:40 Centre-State sharing, making the ₹37,000+ crore project financially viable. Under Bhajanlal government as a flagship water security initiative.

  • CM Kisan Samman Nidhi 4th Instalment (October 2025): CM Bhajanlal Sharma released ₹717.96 crore to 72 lakh farmers — demonstrating operational scale of state's income support architecture.

  • Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, launched October 11, 2025 (IARI, New Delhi): ₹24,000 crore per year for 6 years (2025-31); integrates 36 existing schemes across 11 ministries for 100 low-productivity districts. Rajasthan's low-productivity districts (arid west) are included. This is the most significant structural agricultural intervention since MGNREGS.

  • Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (October 2025): ₹11,440 crore for 2025-31; target 350 lakh MT pulse production by 2030-31; 88 lakh free seed kits. Rajasthan, a major gram and moong producer, benefits from 100% MSP procurement under PM-AASHA.

  • Rajasthan Millets Promotion Mission (2025-26): Part of Agriculture 2.0 framework in Economic Review 2025-26. Rajasthan as top bajra producer positioned as India's millet export hub. Integration with carbon credit pilot for climate-positive farming.

  • Raj-AIMS (2025-26): AI-powered crop monitoring using satellite-based real-time surveillance for soil moisture and weather patterns — a technology leap for Rajasthan's largely rain-fed agriculture.

  • National Mission on High Yielding Seeds (Budget 2025-26): 100+ new seed varieties commercially available (23 cereals, 11 pulses, 7 oilseeds). Second National Gene Bank to store 10 lakh germplasm lines. Directly relevant to Rajasthan's seed replacement rate challenge.

  • JJM 2.0 extended to December 2028 (Budget 2025-26): Enhanced total outlay ₹8.69 lakh crore; Central assistance ₹3.59 lakh crore. Rajasthan's remaining rural households to receive tap connections, addressing fluoride-contaminated groundwater use in agriculture and drinking.

Potential Exam Questions from Current Affairs

  1. Possible question: What is the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)? Discuss its relevance for Rajasthan's agriculture.
    Answer pointers: Launched Oct 2025; ₹24,000 crore/year; 100 districts; integrates 36 schemes; 1.7 crore small/marginal farmers; Rajasthan's arid districts qualify; convergence of PM-KISAN, PMFBY, PMKSY under one umbrella.

  2. Possible question: Discuss the water security challenges in Rajasthan and evaluate the ERCP as a structural solution.
    Answer pointers: 1.16% of national water, 40,000 MCM available, 50% utilized, 80%+ over-exploited blocks, fluoride in 29 districts; ERCP: National Project 2023, 17 districts, 3.25 crore people, 2,51,000 ha irrigation, substitutes surface water for groundwater.

  3. Possible question: What is the significance of Rajasthan's animal husbandry sector in the state's economy?
    Answer pointers: ₹1.98 lakh crore livestock GVA (exceeds crop sector); #1 wool 47.98%, #2 milk 14.44%; 84.43% camels; 10.60% national livestock; RCDF Saras cooperative; CSWRI Avikanagar; structural shift in GSVA composition.

Topic 33 of 138 | Paper I, Unit 2 — Economics | Generated: 2026-04-06