Parliamentary Panel on Fertilizer Budget and Nano Fertilizers
Why in the news
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers, chaired by Kirti Azad, reviewed the 2025-26 Demands for Grants and asked for more money and faster nano fertilizer output.
Key facts
- Budget cut: 7.38% reduction by the Finance Ministry, from ₹1,84,704.63 crore to ₹1,71,082.44 crore.
- Ask: seek additional funds at the revised estimate stage to protect farmer subsidy schemes.
- Nano fertilizers: speed up units for nano urea and nano DAP.
- Self-reliance: no mining lease agreements for domestic extraction or refining had been secured.
Underspending in 2024-25
| Head | Unused funds |
|---|---|
| Indigenous PK fertilizers | 20% |
| Imported PK fertilizers | 12% |
| Indigenous urea | 14.76% |
| Market Development Assistance (MDA) | 59.57% |
Concerns and recommendations
- Cuts to the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) and Urea Subsidy schemes could disrupt payments.
- Nano DAP trials hint at lower use of granular DAP through seed treatment and foliar spray.
- Invest more and secure mining leases for raw materials.
- Plan better so allocated money is fully used.
Exam angle
- Committee chair: Kirti Azad.
- Schemes: NBS, urea subsidy, MDA.
- Linked to Aatmanirbhar Bharat in fertilizers.