Digital Urea and DAP Tracking Platform Planned by Centre
Why in the news
The fertiliser ministry is designing a national app to monitor how subsidised urea and DAP are sold. The goal is to plug misuse for industrial purposes and stockpiling, which cost the exchequer heavily last year. West Asia conflict has added urgency, as the region supplies nearly two-thirds of India’s urea imports.
Key facts
- Nodal ministry: Chemicals and Fertilizers; products covered: urea and DAP.
- Subsidy cost last fiscal year: ₹1.24 trillion.
- Identity check: Aadhaar-based biometrics or mobile OTP.
- Farmers can see stock at nearby retailers and book in advance, reducing panic buying and queues in Kharif and Rabi peaks.
- Later phase: integrate land records and crop details to fix a fertiliser entitlement by acreage.
| State | System or result |
|---|---|
| Haryana | Meri Fasal Mera Byora: links Aadhaar to land and crop data, so purchases match land needs; main blueprint |
| Telangana and Rajasthan | Similar inventory systems, cutting leakage to non-farm uses such as plywood and dye making |
Background
- Urea: organic compound CO(NH2)2, colourless, odourless and highly water-soluble; a key nitrogen source for biology and farming.
- First made artificially by Friedrich Wöhler in 1828.
- About 60% of India’s DAP needs are met by imports.
Exam angle
- Scheme links: Aadhaar authentication, Haryana’s Meri Fasal Mera Byora.
- Related terms: diversion, leakage, fertiliser entitlement, Kharif and Rabi.
- Useful for NABARD/RBI agriculture sections and SSC GK.