Adequate fertilizer availability was maintained across all States during the last five cropping seasons, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel said in written replies in the Rajya Sabha. She credited advance demand assessment, real-time monitoring, timely imports and coordination with States. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ramnath Thakur described how fertilizer samples are tested and how disputed results are settled.
Before each season, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), in consultation with State Governments, assesses State-wise and month-wise requirements. This is done through Zonal Conferences for Agricultural Inputs, where States and Union Territories project seasonal demand based on gross cropped area, irrigated area, consumption patterns and crop-wise nutrient recommendations linked to soil health.
The Department of Fertilizers allocates quantities through monthly supply plans and monitors availability. Movement of major subsidized fertilizers is tracked through the Integrated Fertilizer Management System (iFMS). Imports are finalized well in advance to cover the gap between domestic production and demand. The government works with the Ministry of Railways for priority movement of fertilizer rakes, while State Governments oversee district-level distribution.
For FY 2025-26, availability exceeded requirement for all four major fertilizers. All-India figures, in lakh metric tonnes (LMT), were:
Urea imports were 63.71 LMT in the 2025-26 Rabi season and 39.79 LMT in the 2025-26 Kharif season. Domestic Urea production was 148.78 LMT in 2025-26 Rabi and 144.48 LMT in 2025-26 Kharif.
Prices are held through two schemes. Under the Urea Subsidy Scheme, the MRP of a 45 kg bag stays at ₹242, exclusive of neem coating charges and taxes, and manufacturers or importers are reimbursed the difference between delivered cost and market realization. The Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme, in force since 1 April 2010, gives subsidy on notified phosphatic and potassic fertilizers based on nutrient content and Point of Sale sales.
To keep DAP at ₹1,350 per 50 kg bag during Kharif 2026, an additional ₹3,500 per tonne over and above the NBS subsidy has been extended to imported and domestic DAP and imported TSP. It covers transport costs, international price fluctuations, the GST component in the MRP and a return of 4% of net MRP (excluding GST).
Guidelines dated 18 January 2024 on the reasonableness of MRP allow profit margins of 8% for importers, 10% for manufacturers and 12% for integrated manufacturers. The grades covered under NBS rose from 22 in 2021 to 28. Freight subsidy on Single Super Phosphate has continued since Kharif 2022, and nutrient subsidy rates are reviewed biannually.
On enforcement, DA&FW said 4,84,663 raids were conducted in 2025 against black marketing, hoarding, diversion and sale of sub-standard fertilizers. These led to 17,392 show-cause notices, suspension or cancellation of 6,941 licences and 847 FIRs.
Under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985, amended on 13-12-2024, Fertiliser Inspectors collect three samples. One goes to the dealer, importer, manufacturer, pool handling agency or marketer, the second to the laboratory in-charge, and the third is kept with a designated authority appointed by the State Government.
If a sample is reported non-standard, the party concerned must apply for re-testing within fifteen days of receiving the report, with the prescribed fee and its sample. The designated authority sends a sample to the National Test House (NTH), Ghaziabad coding centre, for second analysis at its centres in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Jaipur or Ghaziabad. The NTH report is final.
If the first and second analyses differ in the parameters found non-standard, the State authority sends its retained sample for a third analysis to the Central Fertiliser Quality Control and Training Institute (CFQCTI), Faridabad, whose report is final. If no application is made within fifteen days, the first analysis stands. If both analyses find non-standard results in a common parameter, there is no third analysis and the second is final.
Clause 30 of the FCO sets timelines. The State officer must send the sample to NTH within three working days of the application, and NTH must communicate results within fifteen days of receipt. Where parameters differ, the sample goes to CFQCTI within three working days; it analyses the sample within fifteen days and informs the State authority within three working days of the report. The State officer then informs the party within three working days.
In 2025-26, NTH received 3,906 samples for second analysis: 2,128 were standard and 1,778 non-standard. CFQCTI received 1,078 for third analysis: 215 were standard and 863 non-standard. Up to June 2026, NTH had received 578 samples (257 non-standard) and CFQCTI 223 (172 non-standard).
The Registration Committee under the Insecticides Act, 1968 registers pesticides only after evaluating efficacy and safety, and DA&FW periodically reviews registered products. Since 2005-06, the Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level (MPRNL) project has used 40 NABL-accredited laboratories to test vegetables, fruits, spices, cereals, pulses, fish, meat, eggs, tea, milk and water. Monthly reports, including samples exceeding Maximum Residue Limits set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), go to State Agricultural Departments.
Under the Insecticides Rules, 1971, Insecticide Inspectors collect samples from manufacturing units and retail outlets, notified analysts test them, and prosecution follows where standards are not met. Generic pesticides are registered expeditiously, with a fee of ₹25,000 under Section 9(4) against ₹2,25,000 under Section 9(3).
With reference to the settlement of disputed fertilizer test results under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Consider the following information:
| Scheme / Measure | Feature | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Urea Subsidy Scheme | MRP of a 45 kg bag stays at ₹242, exclusive of neem coating charges and taxes |
| 2. | Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme | In force since 1 April 2010 and gives subsidy on notified phosphatic and potassic fertilizers |
| 3. | Integrated Fertilizer Management System (iFMS) | Used to allocate the monthly supply plans of fertilizers |
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The first analysis of a fertilizer sample stands if the party concerned does not apply for re-testing within fifteen days.
Statement-II: Fertiliser Inspectors collect three samples, and the third is kept with a designated authority appointed by the State Government.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
