Definition
The Soil Health Card Scheme is a government initiative that assesses soil nutrient status and gives farmers crop-specific advisory support on balanced fertiliser use and soil management.
Exam-ready points
- Its purpose is to promote scientific soil management, not just routine testing.
- It supports balanced nutrient application and helps reduce the overuse or wrong use of fertilisers.
- It is linked with wider goals such as higher productivity, lower input waste, better soil health and climate-resilient farming.
- As of 13 March 2026, 25.89 crore Soil Health Cards had been generated, according to the 24 July 2026 PIB backgrounder.
- In answer writing, connect the scheme with soil testing, crop-specific advisories and sustainable agriculture.
Common mistakes
- Do not describe it as only a fertiliser subsidy measure.
- Do not reduce it to a one-time card-distribution exercise; the main purpose is informed nutrient management.
- Do not forget its link to productivity, sustainability and better resource use.
Difficulty
Foundation
Revision time
About 8 minutes
Self-check questions
- What is the main purpose of the Soil Health Card Scheme?
- How does the scheme support balanced fertiliser use?
- Why can this scheme be linked with climate-resilient agriculture in exam answers?