Agriculture 20 October 2026
Agri Welfare Portal Launched for Farmers' Single-Window Scheme Access
Why in the News?
Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister **Shivraj Singh Chouhan** launched the upgraded **Agri Welfare Portal**, providing farmers with a mobile-friendly, single-window digital gateway to government schemes, financial assistance, and reliable agricultural data.
Key Features / Major Points:
- Direct Access & No Intermediaries: Designed to simplify procedures, eliminate intermediaries, and consolidate key agricultural initiatives under a unified digital umbrella.
- Multi-Stakeholder Ecosystem: Connects farmers (especially small and marginal), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), agricultural scientists, and agritech startups.
- Compliance & Accessibility Standards: Developed following MeitY’s **Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM) 3.0** and **Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW) 3.0**, featuring full accessibility for persons with disabilities (including screen reader support).
- Core Deliverables: Integrated with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), real-time updates on weather, scientific farming practices, market prices, and seed/fertilizer availability.
- Outreach via KVKs: Special training campaigns will be conducted across the country through **Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)** to assist rural farmers in utilizing the portal.
Static GK Facts:
- Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
- Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK):
- First KVK in India: Established in **1974 at Puducherry** (under Tamil Nadu Agricultural University).
- Total KVKs in India: **731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras** are currently operational.
- National Informatics Centre (NIC): Established - **1976** | Headquarters - New Delhi (under MeitY).
- GIGW Framework: Formulated by NIC to standardise design, usability, and web accessibility across Indian government digital portals.
One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):
Q: Which upgraded digital platform was launched by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to offer single-window access to farm subsidies and schemes?
A: Agri Welfare Portal
Q: Through which rural agricultural extension network will special training campaigns be conducted to help farmers use the new portal?
A: Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)
Q: In which year and location was India's first Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) established?
A: 1974 (Puducherry)
Q: In which year was the National Informatics Centre (NIC) established?
A: 1976
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