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Daily Mains Question – GS 3 – 2nd August 2025

  • Writer: TPP
    TPP
  • Aug 2
  • 3 min read
Daily Mains Question – GS 3 – 2nd August 2025

Welcome to your daily UPSC Mains Answer Practice! Today’s question delves into the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), a flagship initiative aimed at transforming 100 agricultural districts in India. This scheme seeks to boost agricultural productivity and allied activities through the convergence of multiple schemes across ministries, emphasizing district-level planning and execution. With a substantial annual outlay and a focus on sustainable practices, irrigation, credit facilitation, and post-harvest infrastructure, PMDDKY exemplifies integrated governance in agriculture. This question is highly relevant for GS Paper 3 – Agriculture, focusing on agricultural development, institutional frameworks, and governance mechanisms for rural and allied sectors.

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QUESTION

Discuss how the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) aims to enhance agricultural productivity and allied activities through a district-centric approach. Examine its governance structure and mechanisms for ensuring effective implementation and monitoring.

Answer: The Union Cabinet has approved the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), a focused initiative aimed at developing 100 agricultural districts through the convergence of 36 schemes from 11 ministries. With an annual outlay of Rs 24,000 crore, the scheme is set for implementation over six years starting from the financial year 2025-26. The programme emphasizes a district-centric approach with the preparation of a District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan, formulated by a District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti chaired by the District Collector and including progressive farmers as members, ensuring localized and need-based planning.

 

Focus on Agriculture and Allied Activities

PMDDKY targets agriculture and allied sectors exclusively by integrating diverse schemes to holistically address the challenges faced by farmers. The key focus areas include:

  • Enhancing agricultural productivity: Through adoption of improved seeds, technology, and mechanization.

  • Crop diversification and sustainable practices: Promoting less water-intensive and high-value crops alongside organic and natural farming techniques.

  • Post-harvest infrastructure development: Building storage facilities at panchayat and block levels to reduce losses and enhance value addition.

  • Irrigation improvement: Expansion and modernization of irrigation systems to ensure water availability and efficiency.

  • Credit facilitation: Enabling access to both short-term and long-term agricultural credit to support farm operations and allied activities.

These interventions are designed to increase productivity, ensure food security, and improve farmer incomes by integrating allied activities like dairy, fisheries, poultry, and horticulture.

 

Governance and Institutional Framework


1. District-Level Planning and Implementation:

  • The scheme’s core lies in the District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan, prepared by the District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti, chaired by the District Collector.

  • The committee includes progressive farmers and technical experts, fostering grassroots participation.

  • District plans will be based on agro-climatic conditions, cropping patterns, and local needs through extensive consultations.


2. Convergence Model:

  • PMDDKY will converge 36 schemes across 11 ministries, ensuring coordinated implementation and avoidance of duplication.

  • This convergence addresses inputs ranging from technology to credit and infrastructure under one umbrella.


3. Multi-tiered Monitoring Committees:

  • Committees will be constituted at the district, state, and national levels to oversee execution, troubleshoot bottlenecks, and provide guidance.

  • Central Nodal Officers (CNOs) will be appointed for regular field visits, progress reviews, and ensuring effective monitoring.

  • Each district will be linked with technical knowledge partners, including agricultural universities and research institutions, for scientific advisory and capacity building.


4. Performance Monitoring and Incentivization:

  • Drawing inspiration from the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP), PMDDKY emphasizes the 3 Cs: Convergence, Collaboration, and Competition.

  • Districts will be ranked monthly based on 117 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to agricultural productivity, irrigation, storage, credit, and allied sectors.

  • The use of a dedicated portal/dashboard will enable real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making.

  • The scheme promotes a competitive spirit among districts by tracking incremental progress, motivating improved outcomes.


5. Support and Capacity Building:

  • The NITI Aayog, which successfully manages the ADP, will provide overarching guidance, strategic support, and capacity-building inputs for PMDDKY.

  • The emphasis on capacity building ensures that local officials and stakeholders are equipped to implement and sustain improvements.


The PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, through its exclusive focus on agriculture and allied activities, supported by a robust governance framework and institutional architecture, aims to increase agricultural productivity, promote sustainability, and enhance farmer livelihoods. By fostering convergence of schemes, district-specific planning, and data-driven monitoring, it seeks to strengthen the agricultural ecosystem, encourage value addition, and contribute significantly towards self-reliance in agriculture and allied sectors.

 

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