Maarg Manthan · Topic 10.15

Soil Health Card Scheme

Environment & Ecology › Land, Forest and Soil Resources · Topic 10.15

The Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme was launched by the Prime Minister on 19 February 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan, under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It provides every farmer with a card, issued on a cycle of two years, that reports the nutrient status of the holding after soil testing and recommends the right doses of fertilisers and soil amendments. The card reports 12 parameters: the macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), the secondary nutrient sulphur (S), the micronutrients zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and boron (B), and the physical and chemical parameters pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and organic carbon (OC). The aim is balanced use of fertilisers, lower input costs, better yields and healthier soils. Soil samples are collected by states, tested in government, mini and village-level labs, and the results are on a portal and mobile app; check the latest on coverage and revisions.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Land, Forest and Soil Resources

At a Glance

Launched 19 February 2015
Place Suratgarh, Rajasthan
Parameters 12
Cycle Every two years
Ministry Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Land, Forest and Soil Resources

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows soil conservation and focuses on soil fertility. It leads to organic farming, the last topic of the macro on land, forest and soil resources. Previous topic: Soil Conservation Measures. Next topic: Organic Farming.

How Does the Soil Health Card Scheme Work?

Feature	Details
Launch	19 February 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan, by the Prime Minister
Ministry	Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, with state agriculture departments
Card cycle	Every farmer gets a card, refreshed every two years
12 parameters	N, P, K; S; Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, B; pH, EC, OC
Samples	Collected from farm fields by state staff, local youth or agriculture students, using GPS tagging in many cases
Testing	Government labs, mini labs, village-level labs and some private labs
Output	Crop-wise recommendations of fertiliser doses, organic manure and soil amendments

What Are the Aims and Limits of the Scheme?

Balanced fertiliser use: avoid over-use of urea and under-use of phosphorus, potash and micronutrients
Lower cost: farmers save money on fertilisers they do not need
Better yield: right nutrient balance improves crop output
Soil health: records show changes in organic carbon and pH over time
Awareness: farmers learn about soil nutrients
Capacity: new testing labs and trained staff
Limits: delays in results, sample errors and low adoption of advice
Language and format: cards in local languages with simple advice

What Else Should You Remember?

Macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, needed in large amounts
Secondary nutrient: sulphur is listed as a secondary nutrient on the card
Micronutrients: zinc, iron, copper, manganese and boron
pH: acidity or alkalinity, which affects nutrient uptake
Electrical conductivity: a measure of soluble salts
Organic carbon: an index of soil organic matter and fertility
Two cycles: the first cycle covered 2015 to 2017 and the second 2017 to 2019
Number of cards: crores of cards have been issued over cycles; check the SHC portal
Portal and app: farmers can access cards online and by mobile
Mini labs: small soil testing labs run by local entrepreneurs
STFR: Soil Test Based Fertiliser Recommendation
Fertiliser use: India uses heavy urea compared with other nutrients, so balanced use is a long-standing goal
Neem-coated urea: introduced to improve nitrogen efficiency and cut diversion
PM-PRANAM: a 2023 scheme to encourage states to reduce chemical fertiliser use
Integrated nutrient management: combine chemical fertilisers, organic manures and biofertilisers
Soil organic carbon: many Indian soils are low in organic carbon
Micronutrient deficiency: zinc and boron deficiency is widespread in several regions
Evaluation: studies found that the cards reduced fertiliser use in some places, but outcomes vary
Challenges: quality of testing, trained staff, follow-up and low literacy
Digital tools: apps and soil sensors may improve testing
Link to previous: see Soil Conservation Measures
Link to next: see Organic Farming
Link to soils: see regur USDA orders Twelve Best for rice, wheat Alluvial Exam…">Types of Soils in India and the World
Caution: the number of cards, labs and scheme arrangements change, so check current official data
Exam hint: remember 2015, Suratgarh, 12 parameters and the two-year cycle
Sample collection: soil samples are collected at set depths from several spots in a field, mixed, and sent to a lab with details of crop and field
Crop-wise advice: the card gives fertiliser doses for main crops of the farmer’s choice, in kilograms per acre or hectare
Organic manure advice: the card also suggests farmyard manure, compost and biofertilisers to build soil carbon
Amendments: lime for acid soils, gypsum for alkali soils and zinc sulphate for zinc deficiency are common suggestions
Local entrepreneurs: rural youth and women’s groups were encouraged to set up soil testing labs
State role: states collect samples, test them, print cards and train farmers, with funds shared with the Centre
Why balanced use matters: too much nitrogen without phosphorus and potash cuts crop response and pollutes water
Public data: aggregated results show nutrient gaps by district and guide fertiliser policy and planning
Training: extension workers and farmers need training to read cards and apply advice correctly
Soil testing frequency: soil tests need repeating because nutrients change with crops, rainfall and fertiliser use

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Launch: 2015, Suratgarh
Parameters: 12
Cycle: Two years
Current affairs link: Balanced fertiliser use
Common errors: mixing the launch place or number of parameters

As an analytical point, a soil card helps only if farmers act on it. Timely testing, simple advice and fertiliser pricing that does not encourage over-use of urea are needed for the card to improve soil health in practice.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Test 12 parameters
Advice Right dose
Goal Soil health

What Came Next?

The next topic covers organic farming. Next topic: Organic Farming.

Key People and Terms

SHC Soil Health Card
EC Electrical conductivity
OC Organic carbon
STFR Test-based dose advice
Micronutrient Needed in small amounts
INM Integrated nutrient management

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Launched 19 February 2015.
Place: Suratgarh.
12 parameters.
Cycle: two years.
Aim: balanced fertilisers.

Do Not Confuse With

SHC and PM-PRANAM Soil test card versus fertiliser reduction incentive
Macro and micronutrients Large versus small amounts
EC and pH Salt level versus acidity

Memory Hook

Fifteen in Suratgarh, twelve on the card, two years to test again.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for year, place and parameters. These points help.

Aim Balance
Work Testing
Gaps Adoption

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Explain the objectives and working of the Soil Health Card Scheme. What are its limitations?”

How to Answer

Aim Balance.
Work Test.
Gaps Follow-up.
Way Digital.

GS Relevance

Prelims: launch, parameters, objectives. GS Paper 3: agriculture inputs and soil health.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Soil Health Card Scheme?

The Soil Health Card Scheme, launched on 19 February 2015 from Suratgarh in Rajasthan, gives each farmer a card that reports the nutrient status of the soil of the holding after testing and recommends suitable fertiliser doses. It is run by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare with state governments.

Which parameters does a Soil Health Card report?

A Soil Health Card reports 12 parameters: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, boron, pH, electrical conductivity and organic carbon. Together they show soil fertility, acidity or alkalinity, salinity and organic matter, and guide crop-wise fertiliser and manure advice.

How often is a Soil Health Card issued?

Cards are meant to be issued to every farmer on a cycle of two years, so soil can be retested and changes tracked over time. The first cycle ran from 2015 to 2017 and the second from 2017 to 2019, with later arrangements continuing under agriculture programmes.

What are the objectives of the scheme?

The scheme aims to promote balanced use of fertilisers based on soil tests, reduce input costs, raise yields, improve soil health and build awareness among farmers. It also strengthens soil testing laboratories and helps states to track soil nutrient trends over time.

What are the limitations of the Soil Health Card Scheme?

Problems include delays in sample collection and results, uneven quality of testing, limited follow-up and training so that farmers do not always act on advice, low laboratory capacity in some areas and fertiliser pricing that favours urea. Better digital tools, trained staff and extension support are needed.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Soil Health Card Scheme was launched in 2015.

True

At Suratgarh, Rajasthan.

2 The card reports 6 parameters.

False

It reports 12.

3 Cards are issued on a two-year cycle.