Important Facts For Prelims
National Beekeeping & Honey Mission
- 06 Nov 2025
- 5 min read
Why in News?
India’s honey sector is witnessing a structured transformation under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), which is expanding scientific beekeeping nationwide and strengthening its contribution to rural livelihoods and agriculture.
What is the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission?
- About: The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) is a Central Sector Scheme launched by the Government of India for the overall promotion and development of scientific beekeeping and the production of quality honey and other beehive products.
- Sub Schemes: The NBHM is being implemented through 3 Mini Missions (MMs) - MM-I, MM-II & MM- III focused on production, post-harvest management and research respectively.
- Implementing Agency: The scheme, implemented by the National Bee Board (NBB) under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, was initially allocated ₹500 crore for 2020–23 and had been extended for another three years till 2025–26.
- Objectives:
- Promote holistic growth of the beekeeping industry to boost rural livelihoods, employment, and crop productivity through pollination and sustainable honey production.
- Strengthen infrastructure, quality control, traceability, and agri-entrepreneurship while empowering women and fostering cooperatives to enhance technology use, marketing, and export potential.
- Ranking:
- India is the second largest exporter of honey, after China, as of 2024.
- Major Indian states producing honey include Uttar Pradesh (17%), West Bengal (16%), Punjab (14%), Bihar (12%) and Rajasthan (9%).
- Major export destinations included the USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Libya.
National Bee Board (NBB)
- The National Bee Board was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 on July 19, 2000, and reconstituted under the Chairmanship of the Secretary (A&C) in June 2006.
- The primary objective of NBB is to promote scientific beekeeping, enhance crop productivity through pollination, and increase honey production to boost the income of beekeepers and farmers.
- It has been designated as the Nodal Agency for the overall development and promotion of scientific beekeeping in the country .
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)?
NBHM is a Central Sector Scheme promoting scientific beekeeping, quality honey production, and rural livelihood enhancement across India.
Q. Who implements the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission?
The National Bee Board (NBB) implements NBHM under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, with an outlay of ₹500 crore.
Q. What are the key objectives of NBHM?
NBHM aims to boost rural income, pollination, sustainable honey production, infrastructure, women empowerment, and honey exports.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Years Question (PYQ)
Prelims:
Q. Consider the following kinds of organisms: (2012)
1. Bat
2. Bee
3.Bird
Which of the above is/are pollinating agent/agents?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (d)
Mains
Q. Assess the role of National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in boosting the production, productivity and income of horticulture farms. How far has it succeeded in increasing the income of farmers? (2018)
