Key Terms & Concepts — UPSC Mains
Bharat-VISTAAR
"AI-driven multilingual digital public infrastructure for farmers, launched February 17, 2026, with scheme integration rolling out through mid-2026."
Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) is an AI-based multilingual Digital Public Infrastructure platform for agriculture, launched on February 17, 2026 in Jaipur and announced in the Union Budget 2026-27 with a Rs 150 crore allocation. Run by the Ministry of Agriculture, it acts as a single digital gateway giving farmers personalised, real-time advice on crops, weather and markets via voice, chat and mobile, including a toll-free helpline 155261 with an AI assistant named Bharati. It connects farmers to major central programmes including PM-KISAN, PMFBY, the Soil Health Card and the Kisan Credit Card with eligibility checks, benefit tracking and grievance redressal. Full scheme integration was scheduled for May 2026 and language expansion toward eleven languages within six months.
GS3 (agriculture, technology missions, e-governance in the farm sector) and GS2 (Digital Public Infrastructure, service delivery). Prelims: full form, launched February 17, 2026, helpline 155261, AI assistant Bharati. Mains: AI and DPI in agricultural extension.
- 1 Launched February 17, 2026 in Jaipur, Rajasthan
- 2 Run by the Ministry of Agriculture
- 3 Announced in Union Budget 2026-27 with a Rs 150 crore allocation
- 4 Full form: Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources
- 5 Toll-free helpline 155261 with AI assistant Bharati
- 6 Connects major central schemes including PM-KISAN, PMFBY, KCC
- 7 Access via voice, chat, mobile app and web portal
- 8 Full scheme integration targeted for May 2026
- 9 Expanding toward 11 languages within six months
Through mid-2026, Bharat-VISTAAR expanded its language base and scheme integration, positioning AI-driven extension advisory as a new model of farmer service delivery.
