New Delhi, Oct 28 (UNI) The union Cabinet has given its nod to the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers for the upcoming Rabi Season 2025-26, a move designed to keep essential farming inputs affordable for farmers.
Announcing the decision, union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the government’s farmer-centric approach. “This approval underscores the government’s firm commitment to ensuring the availability of P&K fertilizers, including DAP and NPKS grades, to farmers at subsidized and affordable prices for a smooth and productive Rabi season,” he stated.
The subsidy, effective from October 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, is a crucial intervention to stabilize the cost of fertilizers. The overall budgetary requirement for the Rabi 2925-26 season is estimated at approximately Rs 37,952.29 crore. This figure represents a slight increase of about Rs736 crore compared to the budgetary requirement for the preceding Kharif season of 2025.
The government’s decision to rationalize the subsidy on P&K fertilizers is based on a review of recent trends in international prices of fertilizers and their inputs. The subsidy will be provided directly to fertilizer companies as per the approved and notified rates. This mechanism ensures that the benefit is passed on, allowing companies to make the fertilizers readily available to farmers at reasonable prices.
The approval ensures farmers will access fertilizers like Di Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) at subsidized prices for the key sowing season. By making these essential nutrients more affordable, the initiative aims to increase crop yields and, consequently, improve farmers’ income, ensuring a productive farming cycle.
