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The Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) completes its first year of formal implementation on 11th October 2026.

What Is The Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)?

Origin: Launched on 11th October 2025, PMDDKY is a Central Sector Scheme designed to fast-track development in agriculture and allied sectors over six years (2025–26 to 2030–31).

Target: The scheme targets approximately 1.7 Crore Farmers across 100 Aspirational Agricultural Districts experiencing severe agricultural lagging, backed by an estimated convergence financial framework of ₹1.44 Lakh Crore. 

District Selection Criteria: Districts are selected based on three quantitative parameters—low agricultural productivity, low cropping intensity, and less agricultural credit disbursement—balanced against each State's share of Net Cropped Area and operational holdings, ensuring every State/UT gets at least 1 Selected District.

Multi-Ministerial Convergence Framework: PMDDKY uniting 36 Central Schemes across 11 Central Ministries and Departments, complemented by State allocations and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions from Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). 

Three-Tier Administrative Governance:

  • District Level: Governed by the District Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana Samiti, chaired by the District Collector / District Magistrate (DM), responsible for formulating and executing the District Action Plan (DAP) in partnership with progressive farmers.  

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  • State Level: Overseen by the State Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana Samiti, chaired by the State Chief Secretary, ensuring alignment with annual State departmental budgets.  

  • National Level: Supervised by the National Executive Committee chaired by the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and the National Monitoring Committee, supported by dedicated Central Nodal Officers (CNOs) for field audits.  

Significance Of Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)

Constitutional Realization Of Agricultural Equity: Aligned with Article 48 (Directive Principles of State Policy) and Entry 14 (Agriculture) of the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, PMDDKY addresses spatial income disparities by transforming underperforming agro-climatic zones.  

Six Core Focus Areas & Dashboard Monitoring: Progress across all 100 Districts is evaluated monthly on the NITI Aayog PM-DDKY Dashboard using 121 Key Performance Indicators (74 Output Indicators and 47 Outcome Indicators).  

Score Progression Across Key Pillars:

  • Composite District Index: Between April 2026 and August 2026, the average score across all 100 Districts surged from 18.85 Points to 46.89 Points, marking a delta improvement of 28.04 Points.  

  • Enhancing Productivity: Score expanded from 1.50 to 8.08. (Source: Press Information Bureau)

  • Crop Diversification & Sustainable Farming: Score grew from 4.08 to 10.18. 

  • Post-Harvest Storage Capacity: Score increased from 2.14 to 5.19.  

  • Irrigation Infrastructure: Score climbed from 1.38 to 4.91.  

  • Institutional Credit Access: Score rose from 2.40 to 6.53.  

  • Governance & Service Delivery: Score jumped from 7.41 to 12.05. 

Human Capital Extension: Between January 2026 and July 2026, capacity building initiatives trained 6,90,530 Farmers and 88,961 Extension Workers, alongside 2,20,683 Farmers and Workers trained in natural farming via Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).

Source: PIB

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), consider the following statements:

1. The scheme is designed as a six-year initiative to transform agriculture across 100 Aspirational Agricultural Districts.

2. Districts under the scheme are selected on the basis of high industrial growth and large-scale agricultural exports.

3. It operates through the convergence of 36 Central schemes across 11 Ministries and Departments, steered at the district level by a committee headed by the District Magistrate.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) is planned as a six-year initiative (from FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31) aimed at transforming agriculture and allied activities across 100 Aspirational Agricultural Districts.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Districts are not selected on the basis of industrial growth or agricultural exports. Instead, they are selected based on three core deficit parameters: low productivity, low/moderate cropping intensity, and lower agricultural credit disbursement (while also accounting for net cropped area and operational holdings).

Statement 3 is correct: The scheme is driven through a saturation-based convergence of 36 Central schemes across 11 Ministries and Departments (along with relevant State schemes and private-sector partnerships). At the district level, planning and execution are steered by the District Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana Samiti, headed by the District Collector / District Magistrate.