Prime Minister Dhan‑Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) completes one year; district-centric implementation highlighted

WHAT IS THE NEWS? Prime Minister Dhan‑Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) completed one year since its formal launch on 11 October 2025. The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare held an event on 12 October 2026 to mark the anniversary, reviewed year‑one progress and recognised best-performing districts under the scheme. KEY FACTS - Date of PIB release: 12 October 2026 (Posted at 4:11 PM). - Event attendance: More than 370 delegates including Union Ministers, Secretaries, Central Nodal Officers, District Collectors, KVK scientists and progressive farmers. - Best-performing districts (overall): 1) Gaya (Bihar) 2) Nagaur (Rajasthan) 3) Umaria (Madhya Pradesh). - Scheme design: District-centric approach covering 100 identified districts (selected for low productivity, low cropping intensity and low agricultural credit disbursement); monitors performance on 121 indicators through a dedicated dashboard with monthly rankings. - Objectives and focus areas: Enhance productivity, increase cropping intensity, strengthen irrigation and water management, facilitate access to agricultural credit, promote high-value agriculture, augment post-harvest infrastructure, encourage sustainable practices and improve farmer incomes. - Convergence: PMDDKY brings together 36 Central schemes from 11 Ministries/Departments along with State schemes under a convergent framework. - Campaign announced: 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' scheduled from 22 October to 30 November 2026 to promote soil health and judicious use of fertilisers. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? - Implementation model: District-centric, indicator-driven monitoring and monthly rankings are intended to encourage transparency, accountability and healthy competition across districts. - Convergence approach: PMDDKY exemplifies a whole-of-government approach by integrating multiple central schemes to address district-specific agricultural bottlenecks. - Policy focus: Emphasis on productivity, irrigation, credit and post-harvest measures aligns with broader goals of agrarian resilience, income enhancement and supply-chain improvements. UPSC PRELIMS ANGLE - Memorise: PMDDKY formally launched 11 October 2025; completed one year on 11 October 2026; event on 12 October 2026 (PIB). - Important specifics: scheme covers 100 districts; monitors 121 indicators; brings together 36 Central schemes of 11 Ministries — useful for prelims matching or governance-related factual questions. - Notable districts to remember for current affairs: Gaya (Bihar), Nagaur (Rajasthan), Umaria (Madhya Pradesh) recognised as best-performing. UPSC MAINS ANGLE - Governance & public policy (GS Paper II/III): Discuss PMDDKY as a case of targeted, district-level intervention to tackle structural agricultural weaknesses — use to evaluate decentralised planning, inter-governmental coordination and outcome-oriented benchmarks. - Agriculture & rural development (GS Paper III): Analyse how convergence of schemes, focus on irrigation, credit and post-harvest infrastructure can influence productivity and farm incomes; weigh implementation challenges (state capacity, extension, credit access, market linkages). - Environment & sustainability: 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' emphasis on soil health and judicious fertiliser use connects to sustainable agriculture and long-term natural resource management. KEY TAKEAWAYS - PMDDKY’s first year focused on setting foundations; second-year emphasis is on measurable, outcome-oriented implementation at district level. - District monitoring (121 indicators) and convergence of central schemes are central to the programme’s implementation strategy. - Scheme highlights link to wider themes: agricultural productivity, irrigation, credit, post-harvest infrastructure and sustainable farming practices (relevant for policy answers and case studies).