Launched: In 2007-08.
About: Flagship scheme of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare (DA&FW) in 2007-2008.
Objective: To incentivize States to draw up comprehensive agriculture development plans for ensuring more inclusive and integrated development of agriculture and allied sectors.
Components: Soil Health Management, Rainfed Area Development, Agro Forestry, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Agricultural Mechanization including Crop Residue Management, Per Drop More Crop, Crop Diversification Programme, RKVY DPR component, and Accelerator Fund for Agri Startups.

About the SHCS

Ministry: Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Objectives:
- To issue soil health cards every three years to all farmers.
- To develop and promote soil test based nutrient management for enhancing nutrient use efficiency.
- To find out the type of particular soil and provide ways to improve it.

Features of Scheme:
- Soil Health Cards: Provides information to farmers on key nutrient status of the soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health.
  - Card contains status of soil with respect to 12 parameters (see infographic)
- Setting up of Village level Soil Testing Labs to test the soils.
- Soil Health Card Portal to facilitate generation of SHCs in a uniform and standardized format across country in all major languages and 5 dialects.
Implementation: By Department of Agriculture of respective State /UTs.
Technological Advancements:
- Integration of portal with a Geographic Information System (GIS) system to capture and show test results on a map.
- Creation of Mobile app for obtaining a Soil Health Card with enhanced accessibility, efficiency, and transparency.

Key Achievements of the Scheme

Coverage: 24.74 crore Soil Health Cards (SHC) generated (as of February, 2025).
Increased Coverage: Number of SHC issued to farmers increased from 16 lakh (2020-21) to 53 lakh (2024-25).
Mapping: Soil and Land Use Survey of India generated 1,987 village-level soil fertility maps for 21 States and Union Territories.
Labs: 8272 Soil Testing Labs have been set up.
Funding: ₹1706.18 crore have been released to various States/UTs.

Quality and accuracy issues: Soil samples are sometimes collected improperly, leading to inaccurate test results.
- Many SHCs provide broad, one-size-fits-all recommendations instead of location-specific and crop-specific advice.
Lack of Understanding: Many farmers are unable to understand the content, hence unable to follow the recommended practices.
Absence of physical and micro-biological indicators: Such as soil texture, water holding capacity, and water quality and bacterial content affect the process.
Others: Inadequate testing Infrastructure, lack of availability of recommended fertilisers and bio-fertilisers at village level, etc.

Sample Collection and Testing: Identify best practices by examining across countries and different state governments practices.
Training and Development: Appropriate training, easy to use sampling tools keeping in mind specialized and highly skill nature of job.
Modern Labs: Soil testing labs at direct level should be equipped with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) which is used to assess soil health by quantifying the elemental composition.
Creation of Specialized body: At central as well as at state level for the management of soils with responsibility of monitoring the quality of delivery service.
Others: Coordination among agricultural extension officers and farmers, development of Soil Health Index; reduction in subsidy for NPK to rationalize fertilizer usage, etc.