AgriStack – India’s digital public infrastructure for agriculture – earned Telangana a fresh incentive of Rs 175 crore from the Centre for completing the first milestone of an AgriStack-based fertiliser distribution system. This note explains AgriStack components and the Digital Agriculture Mission for prelims.
Why in News?
Telangana received Rs 175 crore from the Union Government for completing the first milestone in implementing an AgriStack-based fertiliser distribution system, which links fertiliser sales to the Farmer ID and land records.
it: Key Facts for Prelims
- AgriStack is a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture creating a unified database of farmers, land and crops – the agricultural analogue of Aadhaar/UPI.
- Farmer Registry: each farmer gets a unique Aadhaar-linked digital Farmer ID (Kisan Pehchaan Patra) tied to demographic and land-ownership data.
- Crop Sown Registry: seasonal crop data from mobile-based Digital Crop Surveys, geotagging and satellite/drone imagery.
- Geo-referenced village maps: cadastral maps linked to land records (Bhu-Naksha style).
- Uses: targeted subsidies and DBT, PM-KISAN, crop insurance, credit (Kisan Credit Card), MSP procurement and fertiliser rationalisation.
- Incentives to states are released under the Digital Agriculture Mission for milestone-based Farmer ID saturation and integration.
Digital Agriculture Mission – static points
- Approved by the Union Cabinet in September 2024 with an outlay of Rs 2,817 crore (Central share Rs 1,940 crore).
- Three DPIs: it, Krishi Decision Support System (geospatial), and Soil Profile Maps.
- Targets: Farmer IDs for 11 crore farmers; Digital Crop Survey in all districts.
- Related: PM-KISAN (Rs 6,000/year), PMFBY (crop insurance), e-NAM, Kisan Credit Card, Fertiliser DBT via PoS devices (2018).
Quick Revision Table: AgriStack
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incentive to Telangana | Rs 175 crore (first milestone) |
| Purpose | it-linked fertiliser distribution |
| AgriStack type | Digital Public Infrastructure for agriculture |
| Farmer ID | Aadhaar-linked Kisan Pehchaan Patra |
| Crop data | Crop Sown Registry via Digital Crop Survey |
| Parent mission | Digital Agriculture Mission (2024, Rs 2,817 cr) |
| Ministry | Agriculture & Farmers Welfare |
Trap / Confusing Points: it
| Confusion | Correct Position |
|---|---|
| AgriStack is a single mobile app | No – a set of registries/DPI layers used by many apps |
| Farmer ID replaces Aadhaar | No – it is linked to Aadhaar |
| Digital Agriculture Mission is under MeitY | No – Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare |
| Fertiliser subsidy goes directly to farmers’ bank accounts | No – DBT in fertilisers pays companies after PoS sale to farmers |
5 Practice MCQs on it
1. AgriStack is best described as:
a. A farm mechanisation scheme
b. A Digital Public Infrastructure for agriculture
c. A crop insurance scheme
d. A fertiliser subsidy scheme
Ans: B
Explanation: it is a set of digital registries – farmer, crop and land – forming DPI for agriculture.
2. The unique identity issued to farmers under AgriStack is called:
a. Kisan Credit Card
b. Kisan Pehchaan Patra
c. Soil Health Card
d. Bhu-Aadhaar
Ans: B
Explanation: Farmer ID / Kisan Pehchaan Patra is Aadhaar-linked and tied to land records.
3. The Digital Agriculture Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet in:
a. 2021
b. 2022
c. 2024
d. 2025
Ans: C
Explanation: Approved in September 2024 with Rs 2,817 crore outlay.
4. Which of the following is NOT one of the three DPIs under the Digital Agriculture Mission?
a. it
b. Krishi Decision Support System
c. Soil Profile Maps
d. e-NAM
Ans: D
Explanation: e-NAM is a separate online agri-marketing platform launched in 2016.
5. The Crop Sown Registry under AgriStack is populated mainly through:
a. Census data
b. Digital Crop Survey with geotagging
c. Bank records
d. Fertiliser sales
Ans: B
Explanation: Mobile-based digital crop surveys with geotagging and satellite imagery feed the registry.
Exam tip: Revise it together with the static links above; UPSC and APPSC prelims often frame questions from these interconnections.
To learn current affairs from exam point of view, Click here.
To know more about Telangana’s AgriStack incentive, Click here.
