What is the Soil Health Card (SHC) Policy?

The Soil Health Card Policy helps improve soil health by issuing cards that provide farmers with nutrient and fertiliser recommendations for their soil.

When was the Soil Health Card Policy introduced?

The Soil Health Card Policy was launched by the government of India in 2015.

Why is the Soil Health Card Policy needed?

The policy addresses soil degradation and nutrient imbalances caused by over-cultivation and improper fertiliser use.

How does the Soil Health Card Policy benefit farmers economically?

It helps farmers reduce input costs and increase crop yields by providing tailored fertiliser recommendations. It also creates jobs in soil testing.

How can farmers apply for the Soil Health Card?

Farmers can apply online, at regional agricultural offices, or through mobile apps. They need to provide farmland details, and soil samples will be tested to issue the card.

What is the Soil Health Card (SHC) Policy?

The Soil Health Card Policy helps improve soil health by issuing cards that provide farmers with nutrient and fertiliser recommendations for their soil.

When was the Soil Health Card Policy introduced?

The Soil Health Card Policy was launched by the government of India in 2015.

Why is the Soil Health Card Policy needed?

The policy addresses soil degradation and nutrient imbalances caused by over-cultivation and improper fertiliser use.

How does the Soil Health Card Policy benefit farmers economically?

It helps farmers reduce input costs and increase crop yields by providing tailored fertiliser recommendations. It also creates jobs in soil testing.

Who is eligible for soil health card?

All farmers, including small, marginal, and tenant farmers owning or cultivating agricultural land are eligible.

What are the 12 parameters of the soil health card?

They include pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, and boron.

What is the Soil Health Card Scheme 2025?

It is a central government initiative to provide updated soil nutrient status and crop-wise fertiliser advice to farmers.

What is the theme of soil health card Day 2025?

The theme focuses on sustainable soil management and balanced nutrient use for long-term productivity.

What is the cost of soil health card?

The soil health card is issued free of cost to farmers under the government scheme.

What is the validity of a soil health card?

A soil health card is generally valid for 3 years from the date of soil testing.

How much does a soil test cost?

Government soil tests are free or low-cost, while private labs may charge ₹200–₹500.

How to make soil health card?

Farmers submit soil samples at authorised centres or camps, after which testing is done and the card is issued.

How much does a soil sample test cost?

The cost usually ranges from free to ₹300 depending on whether it is a government or private lab.

What is the new name of soil health card?

The scheme continues under the same name, Soil Health Card Scheme, with digital upgrades.

How to check soil health?

Soil health can be checked through lab testing, soil health cards, and observing crop performance.

What are the 4 types of soil classification?

Alluvial, black, red, and laterite soils are the four major soil classifications in India.

What are the 4 R's of soil health?

Right source, right rate, right time, and right place of nutrient application.

Jaagruk Bharat is a private organization offering support for documentation and government scheme access. We are not affiliated with any government body. Official services are available on respective government portals. Our goal is to make processes easier and more accessible for citizens.

Home

Blogs

About Us

Schemes

Services

Soil Health Cards & Policy: RKVY, Fertility, Agriculture & Farmer Scheme

Komal Bajpai

Author

Updated: 17-12-2025 at 3:30 PM

In 2015, the Government of India launched the Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme as a major agricultural reform to promote sustainable farming practices. The scheme provides farmers with scientific information about the nutritional status of their soil and recommends crop-wise fertiliser usage to correct nutrient imbalances. The Soil Health Card scheme helps farmers make informed decisions, improve productivity, and maintain long-term soil fertility.

The Soil Health Card Scheme PDF and digital tools now allow farmers to easily understand soil test results and advisory recommendations without depending solely on local inputs.

Overview

The table below highlights the key points of the Soil Health Card Policy:-

Name of the scheme	Soil Health Card Policy
Launched by	Government of India
Soil Health Card scheme launched in which State	Overall states in India
Launched in	2015
Objective	To provide farmers with detailed information about the soil of their lands
Target group	For all small and marginal farmers of India
Soil testing	Every 2 years
Digital Access	Soil Health Card website, Soil Health Card portal, Soil Health Card app

What Is The Soil Health Card Policy?

The Soil Health Card Policy is a central government initiative aimed at improving soil quality across India. Through scientific soil testing, farmers receive detailed reports covering essential Soil health Card parameters such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon, and pH levels.

This farmer-focused policy supports sustainable agriculture and food security. Farmers can now access their cards digitally through the Soil Health Card portal or download the Soil Health Card Scheme PDF for offline use.

What Was The Need For The Soil Health Card Policy?

Soils in India have been exposed to intense cultivation and over-exploitation, and their fertility has declined drastically. According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, about 120 million hectares of land in India are affected by soil degradation, and nutrient depletion is one of the main disasters.

Farmers, most of the time, use a blanket approach concerning the application of fertilisers. Due to this, the supply of most of the requisite nutrients is not balanced, leading to deficiencies of certain nutrients or toxicities.

Furthermore, the continued climate changes have caused erratic patterns in rainfall, leading to prolonged droughts and untimely rains, including other catastrophic implications of extreme weather conditions. As such, all the key stakeholders must start the Soil Health Card scheme to mitigate these multi-task challenges.

Key Features

Several features of the Soil Health Card policy outline its goals. Some of the major features of the govt scheme are:

Soil health cards: Farmers receive their Soil health cards that comprise information about the land they own, like the nutrient content of the soil of their land.
Soil testing: Government officials periodically test the soil’s content every 2 years to keep track of the soil’s health.
Recommendations for fertiliser: Under the government. policy, tailored recommendations on fertiliser are given based on soil testing, so that they can improve the soil’s health.
Free testing: The policy provides free or subsidised soil testing for farmers so that they can work on their soil’s health, as well as digital access through the Soil Health Card app and Soil Health Card website.
Boost in productivity: The scheme aims to boost the productivity of farmers’ lands by improving the health of the soil on their land.

Farmers can also obtain a Soil Health Card PDF free Download from official portals after testing.

Key Details On The Soil Health Card

A Soil Health Card parameter is issued by the government of India as an official document that comprises information about the soil of a land, like the soil’s nutrient status, health, etc. The card was launched to promote agricultural productivity and an overall boost to the agriculture sector.

The Soil Health Card comprises certain important information or components listed below in brief:

Details of the farmer: The card consists of the name of the farmer, the address of the farm, and the identity number of the farmer.
Health status of the soil: Details about the soil’s nutrient profile, pH value, and other such technical details.
Fertiliser recommendation: The ideal type of fertiliser for the soil is also mentioned in the card.
Crop recommendation: The ideal type of crop that would be perfect for the soil is also mentioned in the card.
Validity: The card mentions the validity period of the soil health test as well which is done every 2 years.

States like the Soil Health Card Haryana have shown strong implementation and farmer participation, serving as a model for other regions.

Also read: Kera Suraksha Insurance Scheme

Benefits

The Soil Health Card Scheme PDF has various benefits for farmers and the agriculture sector.

Environmental Benefits

This soil health card policy offers another significant advantage. The policy ensures that, through precise information about soil health, farmers are better equipped to understand what their particular soil requires and the correct dosages of fertilisers they should be using. This helps reduce the excessive use of chemical fertilisers, which causes soil degradation and environmental.

Especially in the less agricultural regions irrigated by rainfall, water scarcity can be a bottleneck. Effective nutrient management practices also promote ecological balance and biodiversity in agroecosystems.

Economic Benefits

It has significant economic impacts under the Soil Health Card Policy, as it helps farmers reduce their input costs and increase their crop yields.

The farmers will use the right kind of fertiliser and soil amendments in the right quantity as per the recommendations given in the soil health cards, which would result in prudent use of resources and thereby reduce input costs. In addition, the policy will generate employment opportunities in soil testing laboratories and related sectors, which will also contribute to the growth of the rural economy.

Social Benefits

As part of this process, farmers will participate in soil health assessments and discussions with other farmers about their own experiences.

Eligibility Criteria

Interested farmers first need to ensure whether they fit into the eligibility criteria for Soil Health Card. The eligibility criteria are as follows:

Farmers must be small and marginal.
The land should be used for agricultural work.

Documents Needed

Applicants need to submit certain supporting documents to successfully apply for the scheme. The list of documents is as follows:

Identity proof, such as Aadhaar card, Voter ID
Proof of address
Land ownership proof
Bank account details

How To Apply The Soil Health Card?

Farmers often ask how to apply soil health card. Follow these steps and register yourself under this central government scheme for farmers.

Step 1: Registration

Farmers must apply for the SHC scheme at the portal or the regional agricultural office. One can also register through mobile apps or community-based organisations. You need to provide details about your farmland.

Step 2: Collect a Soil Sample

Upon registration, an agriculture extension officer visits the field for soil sample collection.

Step 3: Soil Testing

After soil samples are collected, they are sent to soil testing laboratories. These laboratories test soil samples to ensure reproducibility and accuracy.

Step 4: Generate a Soil Health Card

You will then receive your soil health card with information on the strengths and weaknesses of the soil.

Step 5: Distribution, Delivery, and Advisory Services

The soil health cards are distributed locally, online, and through community centres. SMS and mobile apps are also available for soil health cards. In addition to providing information to farmers, the SHCs also provide advisory-based training for adhering to recommended practices.

Note: Farmers can complete Soil Health Card online registration through the official Soil Health Card portal, mobile apps, or local agriculture offices.

How To Download Soil Health Cards?

Applicants can download their Soil Health Cards by following certain steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Visit the official SHC website and log in through the Soil Health Card portal.
Step 2: Navigate to the ‘Download Soil Health Card’ option from the citizen services.
Step 3: Enter your application number or Aadhar number.
Step 4:Click on Soil Health Card PDF free Download.

Other Government Schemes For Ensuring Soil Health

There are various other government schemes like the soil health card (SHC) policy. Some of the other major schemes are:

National Soil Health Mission (NSHM): The mission aims to promote sustainable soil management practices to boost the productivity of the land.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: The govt program aims to improve soil health by using sustainable farming practices.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana: The govt scheme aims to promote mindful water usage to enhance the moisture content of the soil.

Many farmers also enquire about the Soil Health Card scheme launched in which State, and it was initially rolled out nationally with pilot implementations across multiple states.

Conclusion

The Soil Health Card Policy is a foundational initiative that strengthens Indian agriculture by encouraging scientific soil management and informed farming practices. By enabling farmers to understand Soil Health Card parameters such as nutrient levels, pH value, and organic carbon, the scheme helps reduce unnecessary fertiliser use, lower cultivation costs, and improve crop productivity.

With facilities like Soil Health Card online registration, access through the Soil Health Card portal, and digital services via the Soil Health Card app, the scheme has become more accessible and farmer-friendly. Overall, the Soil Health Card scheme plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable agriculture, protecting the environment, and ensuring long-term food security in India.

Stay updated with Jaagruk Bharat to get the latest information on government healthcare schemes and more, and reach out to us via our community page if you have any questions.

Frequently Asked Questions