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The Union Cabinet has approved the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), a Rs 24,000 crore annual scheme for 6 years starting from 2025–26. It aims to uplift 100 underperforming districts in agriculture, inspired by NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Districts Programme.

KEY TERMS & CONCEPTS

Term	Explanation
PMDDKY	A flagship farm development scheme integrating 36 schemes from 11 Ministries
Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP)	Launched in 2018 to improve 112 backward districts in India
Cropping Intensity	Ratio of gross cropped area to net sown area
Delta Ranking	Tracks the improvement rate rather than absolute value, promoting fair competition

NEWS DETAILS SIMPLIFIED

Feature	Details
Scheme Name	PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)
Duration	6 years (2025–26 to 2030–31)
Annual Outlay	₹24,000 crore
Coverage	100 underperforming districts (at least one from each state)
Inspired by	Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP)
Key Focus	Irrigation, post-harvest storage, credit access, sustainability, allied sectors

DISTRICT SELECTION CRITERIA

Criteria	Description
Low Productivity	Less yield per hectare
Low Cropping Intensity	Fewer crop cycles or variety
Low Credit Access	Limited disbursement to farmers
Balanced Regional Spread	At least 1 district per state/UT

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

Component	Details
Planning Body	District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti
Monitoring	117 KPIs via dashboard, monthly reviews
Central Oversight	NITI Aayog + Central Nodal Officers
Committees	At district, state, and national levels

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Outcome	Impact
1.7 crore farmers	Direct beneficiaries
Integration	Livestock, dairy, fisheries
Credit, Storage, Irrigation	Easier access and reduced loss
Sustainability	Natural & organic farming boost
Local Jobs	Livelihood generation

ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS PROGRAMME (ADP): MODEL BEHIND PMDDKY

Feature	Details
Launch	2018
Focus	Health, education, agri-productivity, sanitation, financial inclusion
Key Strategy	Convergence, Collaboration, Competition (3Cs)
Monitoring	Champions of Change Dashboard (49 indicators)
Success	Chamba (HP) achieved 100% Jal Jeevan coverage, PMJDY saturation
Global Recognition	Highlighted by Singapore as a replicable model

OTHER MAJOR INITIATIVES TO BOOST AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY

Initiative	Impact
Agri Budget Growth	From ₹11,915 cr (2008–09) to ₹1,22,528 cr (2024–25)
Agri Infra Fund	87,500+ projects for cold chains & warehouses
Crop Yields	Rice (↑19.3%), Maize (↑25.2%), Wheat (↑13.2%)
MSP Revisions	50% profit margin over cost ensured
e-NAM	1,410 mandis linked for better price discovery
PMFBY	Risk coverage encourages modern practices
Soil Health Cards	25+ crore cards help optimise fertiliser use
Fertiliser Subsidies	₹1.67 lakh crore in 2025–26
KCC Credit	₹9.81 lakh crore loans, 7.75 crore active accounts

IN A NUTSHELL

Mnemonic: “I.S.S.U.E.S” for PMDDKY’s core thrust
Irrigation boost
Storage post-harvest
Sustainability (natural/organic)
Unified scheme convergence
Ease of credit
Self-reliant agriculture

PRELIMS QUESTIONS

1. Which of the following is a key selection criterion under PMDDKY?
   A. Literacy rate
   B. Low cropping intensity
   C. High fertilizer consumption
   D. Forest cover
2. The PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana integrates schemes from how many Union Ministries?
   A. 5
   B. 7
   C. 11
   D. 14
3. Which of the following is not a component of the 3Cs framework in the Aspirational Districts Programme?
   A. Collaboration
   B. Customization
   C. Convergence
   D. Competition

MAINS QUESTIONS

1. Discuss how the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana could address regional disparities in agricultural productivity in India. 10 Marks
2. Critically analyse the role of data-driven governance in improving public service delivery using the Aspirational Districts Programme as a case study. 15 Marks

PRELIMS ANSWER KEY

Q No.	Answer	Explanation
1	B	Low cropping intensity is explicitly mentioned as a key criterion
2	C	PMDDKY merges 36 schemes from 11 Ministries
3	B	Customization is not part of the 3Cs (Convergence, Collaboration, Competition)