State PCS - Madhya Pradesh (MP PCS)

• 11 Jul 2025

MP Government's key Reforms for Agriculture and Rural Development

Why in News? 

In a recent cabinet meeting, the Madhya Pradesh government made several important decisions aimed at bolstering agricultural support, improving rural livelihoods, and fostering environmental conservation.  

• These decisions are set to benefit farmers and local communities across the state.

Key Points 

• Irrigation Tax Relief for Farmers: 
  • The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to waive the penalty on unpaid irrigation water tax for all farmers and expects to write off interest dues worth Rs 84 crore. 
    • The government announced that farmers who pay the principal amount of their outstanding dues by 31st March, 2026, will receive a full waiver on the interest component. 
  • This decision is expected to benefit around 35 lakh farmers across the state. 
• Procurement of Pulses: 
  • The cabinet approved the procurement of summer moong and urad crops under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for rabi marketing years 2023–24 to 2025–26. 
  • It also approved a free government guarantee for procurement beyond target limits for the 2024–25 rabi season. 
  • The Madhya Pradesh State Cooperative Marketing Federation (Markfed) will act as the designated procurement agency. 
• Utilisation of CAMPA Funds: 
  • The cabinet approved the utilisation of Rs 1,038 crore out of the total Rs 1,478.38 crore allocated under the Annual Plan of Operation (2025–26) from the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA) for the implementation of forest conservation projects. 
  • This includes activities such as afforestation, river rejuvenation, soil and water conservation, and voluntary relocation of villages from wildlife-protected areas. 
• Expansion of Anganwadi Infrastructure: 
  • The cabinet approved the establishment and operation of new Anganwadi centres under the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 Scheme and the Dharti Aba Tribal Village Utkarsh Abhiyan. 
  • The scheme will receive Rs 15.21 crore during 2025–26 to 2028–29, with Rs 9.55 crore funded by the Centre and Rs 5.66 crore by the state government.

Price Support Scheme (PSS) 

• About: 
  • The Government of India is implementing the PSS under the umbrella scheme “PM-AASHA” (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan), launched in 2018. 
  • The scheme covers major crops such as Bajra, Jowar, Maize, Paddy, Cotton, Tur, Moong, Urad, Groundnut, Sesamum, Wheat, Gram, Mustard, and Sugarcane. 
• Role of Central Agencies and MSP: 
  • The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation implements the PSS for oilseeds, pulses, and cotton procurement. 
  • NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation) acts as the central nodal agency for this purpose. 
  • NAFED initiates procurement whenever market prices drop below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) declared by the government. 
  • The procurement continues until prices stabilize at or above the MSP level. 
• Purpose and Impact of the Scheme: 
  • The PSS aims to ensure a stable and remunerative price environment for farmers. 
  • This price assurance plays a crucial role in boosting agricultural production and productivity across the state.  

Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 

• In Financial Year (FY) 2021-22, the Government of India (GoI) restructured the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and POSHAN (Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment) Abhiyaan into Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 
• The restructured scheme consists of the following sub-schemes: 
  • ICDS 
  • POSHAN Abhiyaan 
  • Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) 
  • National Creche Scheme 

Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) 

• About: 
  • The Government of India has launched DAJGUA, a transformative initiative aimed at ensuring inclusive and sustainable development in tribal regions. 
  • The programme prioritises tribal-majority areas and aspirational blocks for targeted intervention. 
    • The initiative is expected to benefit over 5 crore tribal citizens. 
• Key Focus Areas and Objectives: 
  • The scheme seeks to bridge critical gaps in social infrastructure, healthcare, education, and livelihoods. 
  • It aims to ensure the holistic development of tribal communities through integrated efforts.