No Shortage of Chemical Fertilizers; Adequate Availability Ensured During Kharif 2025 and Rabi 2025–26

1. At a Glance

• Lok Sabha Starred Q. No. *218 (13 Mar 2026): Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers J. P. Nadda affirmed no shortage of Urea, DAP, MOP, NPKS in any State during Kharif 2025 and Rabi 2025–26 [S1].
• Indigenous urea capacity rose from 207.54 LMTPA (2014-15) → 283.74 LMTPA (2023-24); new greenfield/brownfield plants approved under Atmanirbhar Bharat [S1][S3].
• Examinable for GS-III (agriculture, subsidies, food security) and Prelims (schemes: NBS, PM-PRANAM, New Urea Policy 2015, Nano Urea).

2. Why in the News

• 13 March 2026 PIB release by Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, replying to Lok Sabha starred question on availability and self-sufficiency [S1].
• Follows Cabinet approval (28 Mar 2025) of revised NBS rates for Kharif 2025 (outlay ₹37,216.15 cr) and NBS rates for Rabi 2025-26 [S2][S4].

3. Background & Evolution

• 1977: Retention Price Scheme for urea.
• 1 Apr 2010: Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) launched for P&K fertilizers (incl. DAP) [S2].
• 2015: New Urea Policy (NUP) — boosted domestic urea by 20–25 LMT/yr vs 2014-15 baseline [S3].
• 2018: DBT in fertilizers rolled out nationally.
• June 2023: PM-PRANAM (PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth) announced [S2].
• 2021–25: Commissioning of revived urea plants (Ramagundam, Gorakhpur, Sindri, Barauni, Talcher).

4. Core Static Facts

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers → Department of Fertilizers [S1].
• Fertilizers under control: Urea (statutorily controlled price); DAP, MOP, NPKS, SSP under NBS [S2].
• Urea capacity: 207.54 → 283.74 LMTPA (2014-15 to 2023-24) [S1][S3].
• Urea production: record 314.07 LMT (2023-24); 306.67 LMT (2024-25) [S3].
• Kharif 2025: requirement 185.39 LMT; availability 230.53 LMT; sales 193.20 LMT [S3].
• NBS outlay Kharif 2025: ₹37,216.15 crore (Cabinet 28 Mar 2025) [S2].
• Nano Urea: by 2025-26, 8 plants with capacity 44 crore bottles ≈ 195 LMT conventional urea equivalent [S2].
• PM-PRANAM incentive: 50% of fertilizer subsidy saved by States returned as grant [S2].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - Fertilizer subsidy is the second-largest subsidy after food; NBS outlay alone ₹37,216 cr for one season [S2]. - Self-sufficiency push reduces forex outgo on urea imports (India was world's largest urea importer pre-2021).

Administrative - Movement coordinated via Integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (iFMS) and Railways-DoF joint planning [S4]. - State-wise requirement fixed by Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, supplied by DoF [S1].

Environmental - PM-PRANAM + Nano Urea target overuse of urea (NPK imbalance — ideal 4:2:1, actual skewed) [S2]. - Promotes natural/organic farming, soil health restoration [S2].

Scientific / Technological - Nano Urea (liquid) developed by IFFCO; controlled-release, higher nutrient-use efficiency [S2]. - Revival of closed plants using coal-gasification / gas-based technology (Talcher).

Geopolitical - DAP/MOP imports dependent on Morocco, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Canada, Belarus — Russia-Ukraine war disrupted P&K imports; special DAP packages announced over NBS rates [S4].

6. Recent Developments (12-18 months)

• 28 Mar 2025: Cabinet approved NBS for Kharif 2025 — ₹37,216.15 cr [S2].
• 2025: New greenfield & brownfield urea projects approved [S1].
• Kharif 2025: 230.53 LMT urea made available vs 185.39 LMT requirement [S3].
• 13 Mar 2026: Minister's Lok Sabha statement on adequate availability [S1].
• Cabinet approval of NBS rates for Rabi 2025-26 on P&K fertilizers [S4].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Urea is the only fertilizer under statutory price control; price fixed by Government [S2].
• NBS scheme launched 1 April 2010 for P&K fertilizers [S2].
• PM-PRANAM stands for PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth [S2].
• PM-PRANAM incentive = 50% of fertilizer subsidy savings to the State [S2].
• New Urea Policy 2015 → +20-25 LMT/yr domestic urea [S3].
• Indigenous urea capacity in 2023-24: 283.74 LMTPA [S1].
• Record urea production: 314.07 LMT in 2023-24 [S3].
• Implementing ministry: Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers (Dept. of Fertilizers) — NOT Ministry of Agriculture [S1].
• Nano Urea: 8 plants by 2025-26, 44 crore bottles ≈ 195 LMT conventional urea [S2].
• NBS subsidy outlay for Kharif 2025: ₹37,216.15 crore [S2].
• Fertilizer Minister (2026): J. P. Nadda [S1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Major crops & cropping patterns; issues of buffer stocks & food security; subsidies — direct & indirect; e-technology for farmers.
• GS-II: Government policies & interventions for agriculture sector.
• Question stems: 1. "Despite rising indigenous urea capacity, imbalanced fertilizer use remains India's biggest agro-ecological challenge." Critically examine in light of PM-PRANAM and Nano Urea initiatives. 2. Evaluate the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme. Has it achieved its twin objectives of price moderation and balanced fertilization? 3. Discuss the strategic significance of self-sufficiency in urea production for India's food and economic security.

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme — pricing mechanism for P&K [S2].
• Direct Benefit Transfer in Fertilizers (DBT-Fert) — point-of-sale model.
• One Nation One Fertilizer (PMBJP — Bharat brand) — single branding under PM Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana.
• Soil Health Card Scheme — addresses nutrient imbalance.
• Neem-Coated Urea — mandatory since 2015 to curb diversion.
• PM-KISAN & PM Fasal Bima Yojana — sister farmer-welfare schemes.
• National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) — links to PM-PRANAM.
• India's fertilizer imports & WTO — agriculture subsidies in WTO context.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Urea is under Department of Fertilizers (Min. of Chemicals & Fertilizers), NOT Ministry of Agriculture.
• NBS applies only to P&K fertilizers, not Urea — Urea is statutorily priced.
• PM-PRANAM is incentive to States, not direct cash to farmers.
• Nano Urea is liquid (developed by IFFCO), measured in bottles — confusing 44 cr bottles ≠ 44 cr LMT.
• New Urea Policy is 2015, not 2010 (NBS year).

11. Sources

• [S1] No Shortage of Chemical Fertilizers; Adequate Availability Ensured During Kharif 2025 and Rabi 2025–26 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2239624 — (tier 1)
• [S2] PM-PRANAM Scheme: Incentivising States/UTs to Reduce Chemical Fertilizer Use — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2239623 — (tier 1)
• [S3] India Achieving Record Fertilizer Production; Indigenous Urea Capacity Surges to 283.74 LMTPA Under Atmanirbhar Bharat — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2244621 — (tier 1)
• [S4] Cabinet approves NBS rates for Rabi 2025-26 on Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizers — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2183291 — (tier 1)