Why in News

At the 25th Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Dushanbe, India’s Defence Minister called on members to dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorism.

About India’s Economic and Connectivity Points

• Supply chains: India stressed resilient supply chains, easier trade and investment, and use of technology to deal with geopolitical and energy and food security concerns.
• Connectivity: India cited the International North-South Transport Corridor and Chabahar Port as links between Central Asia and wider markets.
• Sovereignty condition: Connectivity must be based on consultation and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.
• Beyond roads: India wants simpler customs, digital documentation and interoperable digital solutions to lower the cost of doing business.
• India’s examples: It pointed to its Digital Public Infrastructure, start-up ecosystem, International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Mission LiFE and Global Biofuel Alliance.

About the SCO Council of Heads of Government

• Role: The CHG deals mainly with economic and other practical cooperation and the organisation’s budget. India has been a full member since 2017.
• Permanent bodies: India welcomed the Bishkek summit’s decision to make the Universal Centre in Tashkent and the Anti-Drug Centre in Dushanbe permanent bodies.

Mains Angle

• Terrorism at multilateral forums: India has again used the SCO to raise cross-border terrorism, as it did when it refused to endorse a 2025 Defence Ministers’ statement that left out its concerns.
• Security and economy together: Trade, corridors and investment need a stable security environment, so India links the two goals.
• Practical test: The SCO’s commitment on terrorism will count only if it leads to intelligence-sharing, action on terror financing and denial of safe havens.
• Divergent interests: Members have different strategic priorities, which limits agreement on common language.

Why in News

The Agriculture Ministry will launch the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan – Rabi 2026 from Karnal, Haryana, and it will run from 22 October to 30 November 2026.

It aims to improve soil health through balanced fertilizer use based on soil testing.

About the Abhiyan

• Aim: To promote sustainable agriculture, improve soil health and encourage the judicious use of agricultural resources.
• As the Agriculture Ministry had said earlier, the campaign will run in all States alongside the review of the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana.
• Scale: It targets about one crore participants through ATMA and ICAR, with 4,150 teams of KVKs and ATMA and over 12,000 scientists and ATMA functionaries.

About the Focus Areas

• Soil and inputs: Balanced use of fertilisers, including green ammonia, and biological products, based on soil testing.
• Crops: Diversification through oilseed, pulse and horticulture missions, intercropping, and use of rice fallows after paddy harvest.
• Residue and pests: Crop residue management and integrated pest management.
• Natural farming: Training in organic and bio-based inputs, natural and regenerative farming and integrated farming systems.
• Water: Water conservation, rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge.
• Farmer services: Creating Farmer IDs, awareness of PMFBY crop insurance, saturation of the Kisan Credit Card and information on trade agreements.

About Implementation

• Activities: Farmers’ conferences, Kisan Chaupals, training sessions and field demonstrations at State, district, block and Gram Panchayat levels.
• Partners: State Agriculture Departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities, ATMA, FPOs, cooperatives and SHGs.
• Outreach: Local-language material, radio, Doordarshan and social media.
• Monitoring: The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will coordinate with States and ICAR and monitor farmers’ participation.

Mains Angle

• Soil health: Overuse of fertilisers affects soil quality and costs, so soil-test-based use can protect both farm incomes and land.
• Convergence: The campaign bundles crop choice, water, insurance and credit in one outreach, which helps small farmers.
• Last-mile delivery: Its success depends on extension workers reaching farmers, and on farmers having soil test results to act on.

Why in News

India is hosting the 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 21 to 23 October, the first time it is held in the Global South.

The Renewable Energy Ministry announced that the next phase of PM-KUSUM will include one of the world’s most ambitious agrivoltaic programmes.

About the Conference

• Organisers: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), with support from Germany’s environment ministry (BMUV), in partnership with Conexio-PSE.
• Theme: “Powering the Global South”.
• Participation: Over 1,200 delegates, including more than 150 foreign participants.
• Launches: A Decision-Making Tool (India Agrivoltaics Alliance), a Book of Abstracts (International Water Management Institute), the MNRE’s AgriPV Policy Handbook and the Global Agrivoltaics Climate-Zone Technical Framework.

About Agrivoltaics

• Meaning: Solar panels are installed above agricultural land, so crops grow underneath. The idea is “One land, two harvests”.
• Farmer income: It aims to turn farmers from Annadatas (food providers) into Urjadatas (energy providers).
• Benefits: Field studies show 10–20% higher yields for some crops and about 30% less water use under suitable systems.
• Potential: A TERI study estimates 47.5 million hectares, about 30% of India’s cropland, is technically suitable. Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh hold nearly 50% of the potential.
• Jobs: The sector could create 1.10 to 3.32 lakh full-time-equivalent jobs.

About the Cost and Design Challenges

• Higher cost: Elevated and tilted structures make agrivoltaic plants 25–30% costlier than ordinary ground-mounted solar. The government plans to bridge this gap through support.
• Small farms: India’s average landholding is only 0.96 hectares, and over 85% of farmers are small and marginal. Designs must allow ploughing, machinery movement and crop changes.
• Water and soil: Systems need good rainwater drainage and harvesting to prevent erosion.
• Local role: The Agriculture Ministry stressed a role for FPOs and training for rural youth and women in operation and maintenance.

About India’s Solar Push in Agriculture

• Capacity: India’s non-fossil capacity is 308.03 GW, more than 55% of about 560 GW total.
• Decentralised solar: It reached 16.3 GW in the previous year, with 7.6 GW under PM-KUSUM and 8.7 GW from rooftop solar, largely under PM Surya Ghar, which has crossed 63 lakh beneficiaries.
• PM-KUSUM: About 25 lakh pump sets have been solarised, reducing diesel use and crude import spending.
• Next phase: The new phase is being developed with the Agriculture Ministry, with work on power purchase models involving distribution companies and State energy departments.

Mains Angle

• Land-use conflict: Agrivoltaics can ease the food versus energy trade-off, but only if farming continues under the panels.
• Fair design: Policy must suit small and marginal farmers, or large developers may gain more than farmers.
• Global South role: India is positioning itself as a leader in shared technical standards for countries with smallholders and water stress.