Agriculture &amp; Rural Current Affairs — Last 12 months

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 3 MCQs

Raw jute MSP raised to ₹5,925 per quintal for 2026-27

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs fixed the Minimum Support Price of raw jute (TD-3 grade) at ₹5,925 per quintal for the 2026-27 season on 24 February 2026.

🌐 Agreements & MoUs 📍 India Important

FCI signs five-year MoU to supply 2 lakh tonnes of rice to the World Food Programme

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding on 18 February 2026 for the supply of rice for global humanitarian operations.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🌾 Agriculture & Rural 📍 Rajasthan Important

Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches AI-based Bharat-VISTAAR Phase 1 for farmers in Jaipur

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched Phase 1 of the AI-based 'Bharat-VISTAAR' scheme for farmers in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on 17 February 2026.

For: State PSC · State Police · State Staff Selection +2 3 MCQs

🌿 Pollution & Conservation 📍 Punjab

CAQM issues Statutory Direction to Punjab, Haryana and UP to eliminate wheat stubble burning in 2026

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued a Statutory Direction on 16 February 2026 to the governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for time-bound implementation of State Action Plans to prevent and eliminate wheat stubble burning in the 2026 harvesting season.

For: State PSC · Judiciary 1 MCQs

💹 Trade & Industry 📍 India Important

Government approves export of 25 LMT wheat and 5 LMT wheat products, and allows 5 LMT more sugar exports

The Government of India approved the export of 25 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and an additional 5 LMT of wheat products on 13 February 2026, and allowed 5 LMT more sugar exports in the 2025-26 sugar season.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🌾 Agriculture & Rural 📍 Delhi Important

National Medicinal Plants Board holds Chintan Shivir on medicinal plants, marking 25 years

The National Medicinal Plants Board of the Ministry of Ayush held a day-long Chintan Shivir on Medicinal Plants at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 11 February 2026, marking 25 years of the Board.

For: State PSC · State Police · State Staff Selection +2 2 MCQs

💹 Trade & Industry 📍 Germany Important

India is 'Country of the Year' at BIOFACH 2026 organic trade fair in Nuremberg

India took part as 'Country of the Year' at BIOFACH 2026, the world's leading organic trade fair, which opened in Nuremberg, Germany, on 10 February 2026.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🌾 Agriculture & Rural 📍 Madhya Pradesh Important

Roadmap for self-reliance in pulses finalised at national consultation in Amlaha, Sehore

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a National Pulses Consultation and Strategy Meeting at the Food Legumes Research Platform (FLRP) in Amlaha, Sehore district, Madhya Pradesh, on 7 February 2026.

For: State PSC · State Police · State Staff Selection +2 2 MCQs

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · Judiciary 1 MCQs

Domestic P&K fertiliser production hits record 15.76 lakh tonnes in January 2026

India's domestic production of phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers — DAP and NPKs — reached a record 15.76 lakh metric tonnes in January 2026, the Department of Fertilizers said on 6 February 2026.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · Judiciary 1 MCQs

Centre withdraws wheat stock limit order as private stocks and acreage rise

The Department of Food and Public Distribution withdrew the wheat stock limit order of 27 May 2025 on 5 February 2026, citing improved availability, though stockists must still declare stocks every Friday.

💹 Economy 📍 Delhi

Chirag Paswan chairs second meeting of committee to counter misleading publicity on processed foods

Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan chaired the second meeting of the committee to counter misleading publicity on processed foods at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, on 2 February 2026.

For: State PSC · Judiciary 1 MCQs

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

Budget 2026-27 proposes Bharat-VISTAAR AI tool for farmers and a Coconut Promotion Scheme

The Union Budget 2026-27, presented on 1 February 2026, proposed Bharat-VISTAAR, a multilingual AI tool integrating AgriStack and ICAR advisories, and a Coconut Promotion Scheme.

🌾 Agriculture & Rural 📍 Tamil Nadu

Agriculture Ministry forms high-level committee to strengthen FPOs in Tamil Nadu

The Agriculture Ministry has constituted a high-level committee to review Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in Tamil Nadu after Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's visit to Erode; it will report within two months, with ICAR-NRCB Tiruchirappalli as host institution.

🌾 Agriculture & Rural 📍 Andaman and Nicobar Islands

₹199.24 crore Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbour approved at Mayabunder, Andaman & Nicobar

The Department of Fisheries approved a Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbour at Mayabunder, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, at ₹199.24 crore with 100% central assistance under PMMSY.

💹 Trade & Industry 📍 United Arab Emirates Important

India is Country Partner at Gulfood 2026 in Dubai with the largest participation

India took part as Country Partner at Gulfood 2026 in Dubai, the world's largest annual food and beverage trade exhibition, with the largest participation of any country by number of exhibitors and exhibition area; the India Pavilion opened on 26 January 2026.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

🌾 Agriculture & Rural 📍 Tripura Important

₹80 crore Agarwood Value Chain Development Scheme launched in Tripura

DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia laid the foundation stone of the ₹80 crore Agarwood Value Chain Development Scheme at North Fulkabari, Tripura, on 24 January 2026.

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🌾 Agriculture & Rural 📍 Assam

APEDA holds organic conclave and buyer-seller meet in Guwahati

APEDA, with the Government of Assam, held an Organic Conclave-cum-Buyer Seller Meet in Guwahati to boost agri-exports from Assam, the Commerce Ministry said on 20 January 2026.

🔬 Research & Discoveries 📍 Andaman and Nicobar Islands Important

India's first open-sea marine fish farming project launched at North Bay, Andaman

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched India's first open-sea marine fish farming project at North Bay, Sri Vijaya Puram, in the Andaman Sea on 18 January 2026.

For: State PSC · State Police · State Staff Selection +2 2 MCQs

🌾 Agriculture & Rural 📍 India Must know

Agriculture Minister details proposed Seed Act 2026: QR-code traceability and penalties up to ₹30 lakh

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan explained the features of the proposed Seed Act 2026 on 16 January 2026, including nationwide seed traceability and penalties of up to ₹30 lakh for substandard seeds.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +8 3 MCQs

🌐 Bilateral Relations 📍 Israel Important

India and Israel sign Joint Ministerial Declaration of Intent on fisheries and aquaculture

India and Israel signed a Joint Ministerial Declaration of Intent on fisheries and aquaculture on 14 January 2026 during Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh's visit to Israel, the Fisheries Ministry said on 15 January.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

India's fish production doubles to 197.75 lakh tonnes in FY 2024-25

India's fish production rose to 197.75 lakh tonnes in FY 2024-25 from 95.79 lakh tonnes in FY 2013-14, an increase of 106%, the Fisheries Ministry said on 12 January 2026.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · Judiciary 1 MCQs

ICAR and NDDB sign MoU to strengthen dairy research and extension

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) signed an MoU with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for collaboration in research, innovation and capacity building across the dairy sector, the Agriculture Ministry said on 12 January 2026.

💹 Trade & Industry 📍 Chhattisgarh

APEDA opens regional office in Raipur to boost Chhattisgarh's agri exports

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) inaugurated its Regional Office in Raipur during the 2nd India International Rice Summit in Chhattisgarh, the Commerce Ministry said on 12 January 2026.

📋 Central Schemes 📍 Rajasthan

Ministry of Cooperation holds national workshop in Udaipur to review PACS and cooperative reforms

A two-day National-Level Workshop and Review Meeting on Strengthening the Cooperative Sector was held in Udaipur, Rajasthan, on 8–9 January 2026, reviewing PACS computerisation, the grain storage plan, the National Cooperative Database and Multi-State Cooperative Society reforms.

For: State PSC · Teaching · Judiciary 2 MCQs

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 2 MCQs

India meets record 73% of fertilizer needs from domestic production in 2025

The Department of Fertilizers said on 9 January 2026 that nearly 73% of India's fertilizer requirement in 2025 was met through domestic production, which reached an all-time high of 524.62 lakh tonnes.

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · SSC +7 3 MCQs

Centre invites comments on draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 to replace Insecticides Act, 1968

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare invited public comments on 7 January 2026 on the draft Pesticides Management Bill, 2025, which will replace the Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Insecticides Rules, 1971; suggestions are due by 4 February 2026.

🌾 Agriculture & Rural 📍 Telangana Important

India's first commercial-scale tropical RAS rainbow trout farm opens in Telangana

Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh inaugurated India's first commercial-scale tropical Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) based rainbow trout farm and research institute in Ranga Reddy district, Telangana, on 5 January 2026.

For: State PSC · State Police · State Staff Selection +2 2 MCQs

For: UPSC Civil Services · State PSC · Judiciary 2 MCQs

Department of Fertilizers holds Chintan Shivir on balanced fertilizer use

On 3 January 2026 in New Delhi, the Department of Fertilizers held a day-long Chintan Shivir with Union Minister J. P. Nadda and MoS Anupriya Patel, focused on balanced fertilizer use and sustainable agriculture.