Context: Recently, The Soil Health Card Scheme completed 10 years since its launch
About Scheme
Launched: By Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 19th February 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan.
Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
- It was launched to assist State Governments in issuing soil health cards to all farmers in the country.
- The Soil Health Card provides farmers with information on soil nutrient levels and recommends the correct nutrient status to enhance soil health and fertility.
- Objective:
- To provide soil health cards to all farmers every two years.
- To establish and encourage soil test-based nutrient management practices to improve nutrient use efficiency.
Key features of Scheme
- The Soil Health Card Portal provides standardized cards in multiple languages and dialects across India.
- The card includes 12 soil parameters namely N, P, K, S (Macro-nutrients); Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Bo (Micronutrients) and pH (Acidity or Basicity), EC (Electrical Conductivity) and OC (Organic Carbon).
- Soil samples are collected twice a year, after Rabi and Kharif crops, or when there’s no standing crop.
- Village Level Soil Testing Labs (VLSTLs) were introduced in 2023, providing local soil testing services. As of February 2025, 665 VLSTLs are operating in 17 states, with youth and entrepreneurs encouraged to set them up.
- The School Soil Health Programme began in 20 schools as a pilot to educate students about soil health and sustainable farming. By 2024, 1020 schools and 125,972 students participated, with 1000 soil testing labs established.
- Since 2022-23, the scheme has been integrated into Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) as ‘Soil Health & Fertility’.
- Technological Advancements: In 2023, the SHC Mobile App was introduced, integrating Geographic Information System (GIS) for geo-mapping soil test results, auto-collecting location data, and generating QR codes for easy access to test results.
- The scheme continues to empower farmers, improve soil health, and promote sustainable farming practices, ensuring the preservation of soil for future generations.