Relevance: GS II (Welfare Schemes) & GS III (Agriculture) | Source: Union Budget Documents 2026-27

1. The Big Shift: Goodbye MGNREGS?

A major structural change is the replacement of the classic MGNREGS with a new scheme: VB-G RAM G (Viksit Bharat-Guarantor for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission – Gramin).

  • The Allocation: ₹96,000 Crore has been allocated (a 43% hike over previous MGNREGS estimates).
  • The Catch: Unlike the previous model where the Centre bore most of the cost, the new scheme implies a 60:40 sharing pattern (Centre:State). This shifts a significant financial burden (approx. ₹56,000 Cr) onto State Governments to maintain the mandated workdays.

2. Agriculture: Cocoa, Sandalwood & Stagnation

While the overall agriculture budget saw only a marginal hike (2.6%), the focus has shifted from “Food Security” (cereals) to “High-Value Cash Crops”.

  • New Missions: Special schemes launched to promote Cocoa (to cut chocolate import bills), Sandalwood (ecosystem restoration), and Coconut (coastal productivity).
  • The Concern: Allocation for Agricultural Research was cut by 4.8%, which contradicts the push for modernization. PM-KISAN remains unchanged at ₹63,500 Cr.

3. Tech Injection: “Bharat-VISTAAR”

To fix the information gap, the government launched Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources).

  • What is it? A multilingual AI-powered tool (like a “Google for Farmers”) that integrates various portals to give real-time advice on weather, prices, and schemes.

UPSC Value Box

Concept / TermRelevance for Prelims
Agri-StackA collection of technology-based interventions (like Bharat-VISTAAR) creating a unified database of farmers. It assigns a unique Digital ID to every farmer, linked to their land records.
VB-G RAM GThe new rural employment scheme replacing MGNREGS. It emphasizes “Ajeevika” (Livelihood) along with employment, hinting at a shift towards skill-based rural work.
Import SubstitutionA trade strategy where a country attempts to reduce its foreign dependency by producing those goods domestically (e.g., India pushing for local Cocoa production).

Q. With reference to the Union Budget 2026-27 initiatives for the agriculture sector, consider the following statements:

  1. “Bharat-VISTAAR” is a new credit guarantee scheme for Small and Marginal Farmers.
  2. The government has announced specific missions to promote the cultivation of Cocoa and Sandalwood to reduce import dependency.
  3. The allocation for the PM-KISAN scheme has been doubled to support farmers against inflation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (b)

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

Recent Posts

Start Yours at Ajmal IAS – with Mentorship StrategyDisciplineClarityResults that Drives Success

Your dream deserves this moment — begin it here.