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ActiveCentral Sector SchemeLaunched 2015-02-19Verified: 2026-09-16

Soil Health Card Scheme (Swasth Dhara, Khet Haraa)

Agricultural soil nutrient assessment scheme providing customized crop-wise fertilizer dosage cards every 2 years to all farmers across India.

Government Levelcentral Government
Administering BodyMinistry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Beneficiary Sector
Farmers & Agriculture
Applicable Jurisdiction
All India

₹Benefits & Entitlement Breakdown

Issue of customized printed and digital Soil Health Cards every 2 years to all farm landholders. The card reports the exact nutrient status of the soil across 12 vital chemical parameters: Macro-nutrients (Nitrogen - N, Phosphorus - P, Potassium - K), Secondary nutrient (Sulphur - S), Micronutrients (Zinc - Zn, Iron - Fe, Copper - Cu, Manganese - Mn, Boron - Bo), and Physical parameters (pH, Electrical Conductivity - EC, Organic Carbon - OC). Provides precise, crop-wise fertilizer and bio-fertilizer dosage recommendations to optimize soil fertility, eliminate over-fertilization, and reduce cultivation costs by 15%–25%.

📊Budget Allocation & Beneficiary Reach

Fiscal Budget Allocation

₹200 Crore (Union Budget allocation for Soil Health and Nutrient Management)

Official Budget Document ↗
Verified Beneficiary Reach

23.5+ Crore Soil Health Cards distributed across Cycle I and Cycle II

As of: 2024-03-31PIB / Official Citation ↗

Verified Eligibility Criteria

Age Requirement:Minimum 18 years
Annual Family Income Ceiling:No gross income ceiling specified
Target Occupations:farmer, cultivator, landholder
Eligible Gender:all
Social Category / Reservation:all
Specific Operational Conditions & Exclusions:

All farmers holding cultivable agricultural land across all States and Union Territories. Universal service provided by the Department of Agriculture without cost to the farmer.

Required Documents Checklist

  • ✓
    Aadhaar Card of the FarmerMandatory

    For linkage with farmer portal profile.

  • ✓
    Land Revenue Record (Khasra / Khatauni / Survey Number)Mandatory

    To pinpoint exact agricultural grid coordinates.

How to Apply

1. Soil samples are collected by agriculture department officials / Village Youth Village Level Workers using GPS coordinates in a grid pattern (2.5 ha for irrigated, 10 ha for rainfed). 2. Soil samples are tested at accredited district and block Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs) or mobile soil labs. 3. Test results and crop recommendations are entered into the national Soil Health Portal (https://soilhealth.dac.gov.in). 4. Printed Soil Health Cards are distributed through Gram Panchayats, Krishi Melas, and Agriculture Extension Officers. 5. Farmers can also download their digital Soil Health Card directly from the portal by searching with State, District, and Village/Khasra number.

Official Government Application Portal

You will be redirected to the secure official portal: soilhealth.dac.gov.in

Apply on official government website

Frequently Asked Questions (Officially Sourced)

Verified answers sourced directly from official circulars, gazettes, and portal FAQs. Never AI-invented.

How many nutrient parameters are tested in a Soil Health Card?

The Soil Health Card tests 12 parameters: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium (macro), Sulphur (secondary), Zinc, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Boron (micro), and pH, Electrical Conductivity, and Organic Carbon.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

How frequently is a Soil Health Card issued to a farmer?

A Soil Health Card is issued once every 2 years for all cultivable land parcels to reflect changes in soil fertility.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

Does the farmer have to pay any fee for soil testing?

No, soil sample collection, laboratory analysis, and generation of the Soil Health Card are provided completely free of cost by the Government.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

Common Rejection Reasons & Warnings

Sample collected from non-agricultural land; unverified land parcel records.

Editorial Verification & Change Log

DateFieldDescription / UpdateSource Citation
2026-09-16initial_verificationBaseline verification of Soil Health Card protocols, 12 nutrient parameters, and portal download features.Official Source ↗

Application Window & Deadlines

Biennial continuous testing cycle

Related Welfare Programs

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)

Direct income support of ₹6,000 per year in three equal installments to landholding farmer families across India.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

National flagship scheme for fisheries development providing 40% to 60% capital subsidies for aquaculture, marine fishing boats, cold storage, and fish farming infrastructure.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

Comprehensive agricultural crop insurance covering yield loss from pre-sowing to post-harvest perils at ultra-low farmer premiums of 1.5% to 2%.

Official Helpline & Nodal Offices

Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) Division, MoA&FW

Krishi Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi - 110001

Helpline: 011-23382744 / 155261 (Kisan Call Centre)

Jurisdiction: National (All-India)

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Verification Metadata

Last verified by Eligo researchers on 2026-09-16 against official government documentation.

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