Page 24 - NIS English 1-15 Feb, 2026

GST Reforms Benefit

GST changes in the agriculture sector are farmer-
friendly, a step towards rural welfare and sustainability,
Water Reaches the which will reduce costs for farmers. Cooperative
Fields, Reducing the societies and farmer producer organizations will also
benefit.
Burden for Farmers n GST on tractors below 1800cc has been reduced
from 12% to 5%. GST on tractor parts has also been
PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) reduced from 18% to 5%.
n More than 96.97 lakh hectares of land have benefited n GST on commercial goods vehicles has been reduced
under the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ component of from 28% to 18%.
the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. The ‘Per
Drop More Crop’ scheme has been in effect since n GST on processed and preserved vegetables, fruits,
2015-16. This scheme enhances water use efficiency and nuts has been reduced from 12% to 5%. This
at the farm level through micro-irrigation techniques will boost exports and strengthen India’s position as
such as drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation. an agricultural export hub.
n 63 major irrigation projects have been approved, n GST on fertilizer inputs, i.e., ammonia, sulfuric acid,
empowering more than 2 crore farmers with and nitric acid, has been reduced from 18% to 5%.
improved irrigation facilities. This will reduce fertilizer production costs, ensuring
the availability of affordable fertilizers.
n The Union Cabinet has approved the Command
Area Development and Modernization of Water
Management as a sub-scheme of the Pradhan Mantri
Krishi Sinchai Yojana for the period 2025-2026.

PM-KUSUM 34,800
Scheme
n The PM-KUSUM MW of solar capacity,
scheme, launched to be added with central
in March 2019, financial assistance of
was extended in Rs. 34,422 crore to be
January 2024. provided by March 2026.

payment of ₹6,000 under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi
scheme, disbursed in three installments, the government
has prioritized empowering farmers rather than simply Today, in the villages, the
offering debt waivers, thus preventing them from having Namo Drone Didis are leading
to take on debt. In 2008, a debt waiver scheme of ₹72,000
crore was announced for farmers, which later turned out to the way in modern methods
be only ₹52,000 crore. Under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi of spraying fertilizers and
scheme, by 2025, over ₹4 lakh crore has been directly trans- pesticides.
ferred to the bank accounts of farmers in 21 installments.
Approximately ₹1 lakh crore of this amount reached small Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
farmers during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pan-

22 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || February 1-15, 2026