Union Government Launches ‘Bharat‑VISTAAR’ Platform in Rajasthan | 20 Feb 2026

Why in News?

The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, launched ‘Bharat‑VISTAAR’, an artificial intelligence (AI)‑driven digital platform for farmers, in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Key Points:

• Digital Platform: Bharat‑VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) is a multilingual, AI-powered platform.
  • It integrates weather forecasts, market prices, crop advisories, pest alerts, soil health information, and government schemes into a single accessible interface.
• Accessibility: The platform uses voice-first technology, allowing farmers to access information via helpline 155261, voice commands, or text chatbots, even on feature phones.
  • It is initially available in Hindi and English, with plans to expand to 11 more languages.
• Farmer ID: A digital Farmer Identity Card will store farmer data and integrate services like PM Fasal Bima Yojana and Soil Health Card.
• Focus Areas: The platform aims to support farmers in decision-making for sowing, harvesting, and marketing. 
  • Provide scientific crop management guidance, and improve income through real-time data. 
  • It targets inclusivity by helping farmers in regions with limited internet access or digital literacy.
• Impact: It is expected to boost farmers’ productivity and income, support agri-tech MSMEs, and promote data-driven, climate-smart farming.
• Government Vision: The initiative aligns with India’s Digital India and AI for Agriculture missions, aiming to modernize farming practices and bridge information gaps in rural India.