**Executive Summary**
This document contains the answer from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding the PM-PRANAM Scheme. The scheme, approved on June 28, 2023, aims to reduce chemical fertilizer consumption and promote sustainable practices. The question was scheduled to be answered on February 6, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **PM-PRANAM Scheme Overview:**
* Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on June 28, 2023.
* Aims to support States/UTs in preserving Mother Earth's health through sustainable fertilizer use, alternative fertilizers, organic farming, and resource conservation technologies.
* All States/UTs are covered under the scheme.
* **Incentives for Reducing Chemical Fertilizer Consumption:**
* The scheme provides incentives to States/UTs for reducing the consumption of chemical fertilizers (Urea, DAP, NPK, MOP).
* Incentives are based on the reduction compared to the average consumption over the previous three years.
* The incentive amount is equivalent to 50% of the fertilizer subsidy saved.
* **Grant Allocation and Usage:**
* 95% of the total grant is allocated to the State.
* The remaining 5% is utilized by the Government of India towards disaster-adjusted incentives.
* 65% of the State's grant is for capital expenditure (capex) projects, preferably as contributions to Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
* 30% is untied for other activities, including Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) initiatives.
* **Disbursements:**
* No incentives have been disbursed to the States/UTs as of the date of the response.
* **Maharashtra's Reduction in Fertilizer Consumption (2023-24):**
* Maharashtra showed a provisional reduction of 3,40,789 MT (3.41 LMT) in chemical fertilizer consumption during 2023-24 compared to the average of 2020-2023.
* Reasons for the reduction include:
* Organization of district-wise awareness campaigns and workshops.
* Changes in cropping patterns due to unseasonal rains and dry weather.
* Reduction in sowing area during Rabi 2023-24.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: States/UTs**
* **Impact:**
* Opportunity to receive financial incentives for reducing chemical fertilizer consumption.
* Required to promote sustainable and balanced fertilizer use, adoption of alternative fertilizers, promotion of organic farming, and implementation of resource conservation technologies.
* **Action Required:**
* Implement measures to reduce chemical fertilizer consumption.
* Utilize grants for capital expenditure projects and IEC initiatives.
**Stakeholder: Government of India**
* **Impact:**
* Required to allocate and disburse grants to States/UTs based on their performance in reducing fertilizer consumption.
* Responsible for utilizing 5% of the total grant towards disaster-adjusted incentives.
* **Action Required:**
* Monitor fertilizer consumption patterns in States/UTs.
* Disburse incentives based on verified reductions in consumption.
Key Entities Referenced
PM-PRANAM: Prime Minister Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth - Scheme promoting sustainable fertilizer use and organic farming.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers: Union government ministry responsible for administering PM-PRANAM and responding to parliamentary questions about it.
Maharashtra: Indian state used as a case study to examine the impact of PM-PRANAM on fertilizer consumption.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA): Committee that approved the PM-PRANAM Scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1337 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 06.02.2026
PM-PRANAM Scheme
†1337. Shri Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) the progress achieved under the PM-PRANAM (Prime Minister Programme for
Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth) Scheme
during the last five years;
(b) the details of the grants sanctioned and released thereunder State-wise, particularly
in the State of Maharashtra;
(c) the total amount of the grants disbursed under the PM-PRANAM Scheme till
January, 2026, State/UT-wise and year-wise;
(d) whether the reduction in the consumption of chemical fertilisers
(Urea/DAP/NPK/MOP) has been recorded in Maharashtra during the said years,
particularly during 2023-24, as compared to the average of the preceding three
years; and
(e) if so, the reasons therefor, year-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) to (b) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), on June 28, 2023,
approved the “PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment, and
Amelioration of Mother-Earth (PM-PRANAM). The initiative aims to support the mass
movement initiated by States and Union Territories (UTs) to preserve the health of Mother
Earth through the promotion of sustainable and balanced fertilizer use, adoption of
alternative fertilizers, promotion of organic farming, and implementation of resource
conservation technologies.
All States/UTs are covered under the PM-PRANAM scheme. Under the PM-
PRANAM scheme, there is a provision to provide incentives to States/UTs for reduction of
consumption of chemical fertilizers (Urea, DAP, NPK, MOP) in a given financial year,
compared to the average consumption over the previous three years, equivalent to 50% of
the fertilizer subsidy saved. Of the total grant, 95% will be allocated to the State, while the
remaining 5% will be utilized by the Government of India towards disaster-adjusted
incentives. For grant calculations, any increase in a State’s cropping area is first accounted
for by proportionately adjusting fertilizer consumption. Thereafter, the actual reduction in-2-
chemical fertilizer usage during the year is computed to arrive at the final incentive amount.
Additionally, any increase in fertilizer consumption in adjoining districts of neighboring
States is deducted from the savings. Out of the 95% grant provided to the States, 65% is
for capital expenditure (capex) projects, preferably as contributions to Centrally Sponsored
Schemes, and 30% is untied for other activities, including Information, Education, and
Communication (IEC) initiatives.
(c) Till date, no incentives have been disbursed to the States/UTs.
(d) and (e) During 2023-24, the State of Maharashtra has shown a provisional reduction
of 3,40,789 MT (3.41 LMT) in the consumption of chemical fertilizers
(Urea/DAP/NPK/MOP), as compared to the average of the preceding three years (2020 to
2023) due to the following reasons:
i. Organization of district-wise awareness campaigns and workshops to promote the
balanced use of fertilizers.
ii. Change in cropping patterns from traditional crops due to unseasonal rains during
Kharif 2023 and dry weather in Rabi 2023–24.
iii. Reduction in sowing area during Rabi 2023–24, resulting in below-average fertilizer
consumption.
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