Lok Sabha Question No. 3491 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-13
Subject: Nutrient based Subsidy Scheme
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri B K Parthasarathi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS

## DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3491 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.03.2026

## Nutrient based Subsidy Scheme

## 3491. Shri B K Parthasarathi:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- a) the total amount of funds released under Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme during the last five years in the country, year-wise and State-wise;
2. (b) the details regarding total Point of Sale (PoS) machines installed in the country, State-wise and district-wise for Andhra Pradesh;
3. (c) the total number of beneficiaries under the said Scheme during the last five years in the country, State-wise and district-wise for Andhra Pradesh;
4. (d) whether the Government has conducted any study to assess the effectiveness of NBS in the prices of the fertilizers, if so, the details thereof; and
5. (e) the manner in which the Government ensures that the subsidy given on Nutrient based fertilizers is reaching out to the farmers via affordable prices?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a): Under  'DBT  in  Fertilizers'  system,  100%  subsidy  on  various  fertilizer  grades  is released to the fertilizer companies, on actual sales to the beneficiaries based on Aadhar authentication through PoS devices installed at each retail shop. All farmers are being supplied fertilizers  at  the  subsidized  rates  on  no-denial  basis.  The  details  of  the  total amount of funds released under Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme provided by the Government during the last five years i.e. from year 2020-21 to 2024-25 are as follows:

( Figures in Rs. crore

)

| Financial Year   | Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme   | Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme   |         |
|------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------|
|                  | Indigenous P&K                        | Imported P&K                          | Total   |
| 22288.36         | 15015.37                              | 37303.73                              | 2020-21 |
| 31931.46         | 20794.8                               | 52726.26                              | 2021-22 |
| 50089.67         | 36032.56                              | 86122.23                              | 2022-23 |
| 36270.00         | 28929.57                              | 65199.57                              | 2023-24 |
| 34010.00         | 18800.00                              | 52810.00                              | 2024-25 |

- (b): The details regarding total Point of Sale (PoS) machines installed in the country, State-wise and district-wise for Andhra Pradesh, are attached at Annexure-I .
- (c): The details of the total number of beneficiaries under the said Scheme during the last  five  years  in  the  country,  State-wise  and  district-wise  for  Andhra  Pradesh,  are attached at Annexure-II .
- (d) & (e): The Government has implemented Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme w.e.f. 01.04.2010 for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) Fertilizers. Under the NBS Scheme, MRP of P&K fertilizers are decontrolled and companies are free to fix MRP as per their business dynamics at a reasonable level which is monitored by the Government.

A third party study conducted by M/s SANTEK in 2020 to assess impact of Nutrient Based subsidy has shown that objective of 'availability at subsidized / reasonable price' has been met.  Further,  under  NBS,  the  Government  has  issued  reasonability  guidelines  dated 15.11.2019  &  18.01.2024  to  keep  MRPs  of  P&K  fertilizers  at  reasonable  level  and affordable  to  farmers.  As  per  the  reasonability  guidelines  dated  18.01.2024, the  profit earned  above  8%  (for  importers),  10%  (for  manufacturers),  12%  (for  integrated manufacturers) of Cost of Sales of product is treated as unreasonable based on cost data submitted by the companies.

*******

## ANNEXURE-I

Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3491 for answer on 13.03.2026

| (i.) Point of Sale (PoS) Machines Installed in the Country   | (i.) Point of Sale (PoS) Machines Installed in the Country   | (i.) Point of Sale (PoS) Machines Installed in the Country   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.                                                       | State/UT Name                                                | Total Count of PoS Devices                                   |
| 1.                                                           | Andaman and Nicobar                                          | 29                                                           |
| 2.                                                           | Andhra Pradesh                                               | 11,628                                                       |
| 3.                                                           | Arunachal Pradesh                                            | 14                                                           |
| 4.                                                           | Assam                                                        | 6,100                                                        |
| 5.                                                           | Bihar                                                        | 30,635                                                       |
| 6.                                                           | Chhattisgarh                                                 | 5,720                                                        |
| 7.                                                           | Delhi                                                        | 60                                                           |
| 8.                                                           | Goa                                                          | 36                                                           |
| 9.                                                           | Gujarat                                                      | 9,312                                                        |
| 10.                                                          | Haryana                                                      | 8,348                                                        |
| 11.                                                          | Himachal Pradesh                                             | 1,713                                                        |
| 12.                                                          | J&K                                                          | 4,040                                                        |
| 13.                                                          | Jharkhand                                                    | 5,278                                                        |
| 14.                                                          | Karnataka                                                    | 13,049                                                       |
| 15.                                                          | Kerala                                                       | 2,656                                                        |
| 16.                                                          | Ladakh                                                       | 4                                                            |
| 17.                                                          | Madhya Pradesh                                               | 13,122                                                       |
| 18.                                                          | Maharashtra                                                  | 32,930                                                       |
| 19.                                                          | Manipur                                                      | 30                                                           |
| 20.                                                          | Meghalaya                                                    | 46                                                           |
| 21.                                                          | Mizoram                                                      | 57                                                           |
| 22.                                                          | Nagaland                                                     | 4                                                            |
| 23.                                                          | Odisha                                                       | 9,440                                                        |
| 24.                                                          | Puducherry                                                   | 78                                                           |
| 25.                                                          | Punjab                                                       | 9,415                                                        |
| 26.                                                          | Rajasthan                                                    | 16,459                                                       |
| 27.                                                          | Tamil Nadu                                                   | 12,856                                                       |
| 28.                                                          | Telangana                                                    | 11,117                                                       |
| 29.                                                          | Tripura                                                      | 605                                                          |
| 30.                                                          | Uttar Pradesh                                                | 70,090                                                       |
| 31.                                                          | Uttarakhand                                                  | 1,274                                                        |
| 32.                                                          | West Bengal                                                  | 23,067                                                       |
| Total                                                        | Total                                                        | 2,99,212                                                     |

(SOURCE: iFMS)

| (ii.) Point of Sale (PoS) Machines Installed in the Andhra Pradesh   | (ii.) Point of Sale (PoS) Machines Installed in the Andhra Pradesh   | (ii.) Point of Sale (PoS) Machines Installed in the Andhra Pradesh   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S.No.                                                                | District Name                                                        | Total Count of POS Devices                                           |
| 1.                                                                   | Alluri Sitharama Raju                                                | 075                                                                  |
| 2.                                                                   | Anakapalli                                                           | 273                                                                  |
| 3.                                                                   | Ananthapuramu                                                        | 519                                                                  |
| 4.                                                                   | Annamayya                                                            | 375                                                                  |
| 5.                                                                   | Bapatla                                                              | 558                                                                  |
| 6.                                                                   | Chittoor                                                             | 321                                                                  |
| 7.                                                                   | East Godavari                                                        | 365                                                                  |
| 8.                                                                   | Eluru                                                                | 555                                                                  |
| 9.                                                                   | Guntur                                                               | 340                                                                  |
| 10.                                                                  | Kakinada                                                             | 491                                                                  |
| 11.                                                                  | Konaseema                                                            | 430                                                                  |
| 12.                                                                  | Krishna                                                              | 505                                                                  |
| 13.                                                                  | Kurnool                                                              | 617                                                                  |
| 14.                                                                  | Nandyal                                                              | 675                                                                  |
| 15.                                                                  | NTR                                                                  | 321                                                                  |
| 16.                                                                  | Palnadu                                                              | 795                                                                  |
| 17.                                                                  | Parvathipuram Manyam                                                 | 243                                                                  |
| 18.                                                                  | Prakasam                                                             | 825                                                                  |
| 19.                                                                  | SPSR Nellore                                                         | 732                                                                  |
| 20.                                                                  | Sri Sathya Sai                                                       | 382                                                                  |
| 21.                                                                  | Srikakulam                                                           | 367                                                                  |
| 22.                                                                  | Tirupati                                                             | 496                                                                  |
| 23.                                                                  | Visakhapatnam                                                        | 041                                                                  |
| 24.                                                                  | Vizianagaram                                                         | 436                                                                  |
| 25.                                                                  | West Godavari                                                        | 452                                                                  |
| 26.                                                                  | YSR Kadapa                                                           | 439                                                                  |
| TOTAL                                                                | TOTAL                                                                | 11628                                                                |

(SOURCE: iFMS)

## ANNEXURE-II

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3491 for answer on 13.03.2026

| (i.) Total Number of Beneficiaries in the Country (From 01.04.2020 to 31.03.2025)   | (i.) Total Number of Beneficiaries in the Country (From 01.04.2020 to 31.03.2025)   | (i.) Total Number of Beneficiaries in the Country (From 01.04.2020 to 31.03.2025)   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S.No.                                                                               | State/UT Name                                                                       | No of Unique Buyers/Beneficiaries                                                   |
| 1.                                                                                  | Andaman and Nicobar Islands                                                         | 9354                                                                                |
| 2.                                                                                  | Andhra Pradesh                                                                      | 5765763                                                                             |
| 3.                                                                                  | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                   | 1041                                                                                |
| 4.                                                                                  | Assam                                                                               | 2933890                                                                             |
| 5.                                                                                  | Bihar                                                                               | 19691992                                                                            |
| 6.                                                                                  | Chhattisgarh                                                                        | 3588572                                                                             |
| 7.                                                                                  | Dadra and Nagar Haveli                                                              | 9793                                                                                |
| 8.                                                                                  | Delhi                                                                               | 53421                                                                               |
| 9.                                                                                  | Goa                                                                                 | 80052                                                                               |
| 10.                                                                                 | Gujarat                                                                             | 7392578                                                                             |
| 11.                                                                                 | Haryana                                                                             | 3471236                                                                             |
| 12.                                                                                 | Himachal Pradesh                                                                    | 654881                                                                              |
| 13.                                                                                 | Jammu and kashmir                                                                   | 1377689                                                                             |
| 14.                                                                                 | Jharkhand                                                                           | 3216737                                                                             |
| 15.                                                                                 | Karnataka                                                                           | 6326113                                                                             |
| 16.                                                                                 | Kerala                                                                              | 882230                                                                              |
| 17.                                                                                 | Madhya Pradesh                                                                      | 12055547                                                                            |
| 18.                                                                                 | Maharashtra                                                                         | 12476960                                                                            |
| 19.                                                                                 | Manipur                                                                             | 18526                                                                               |
| 20.                                                                                 | Meghalaya                                                                           | 13944                                                                               |
| 21.                                                                                 | Mizoram                                                                             | 10644                                                                               |
| 22.                                                                                 | Nagaland                                                                            | 1648                                                                                |
| 23.                                                                                 | Odisha                                                                              | 5623402                                                                             |
| 24.                                                                                 | Puducherry                                                                          | 34881                                                                               |
| 25.                                                                                 | Punjab                                                                              | 2725505                                                                             |
| 26.                                                                                 | Rajasthan                                                                           | 9379679                                                                             |
| 27.                                                                                 | Tamil Nadu                                                                          | 5583319                                                                             |
| 28.                                                                                 | Telangana                                                                           | 4945815                                                                             |
| 29.                                                                                 | Tripura                                                                             | 144022                                                                              |
| 30.                                                                                 | Uttarakhand                                                                         | 645598                                                                              |
| 31.                                                                                 | Uttar Pradesh                                                                       | 42698059                                                                            |
| 32.                                                                                 | West Bengal                                                                         | 7489513                                                                             |
| Total                                                                               | Total                                                                               | 159302404                                                                           |

(SOURCE: iFMS)

| (ii.) Number of Beneficiaries in Andhra Pradesh (From 01.04.2020 to 31.03.2025)   | (ii.) Number of Beneficiaries in Andhra Pradesh (From 01.04.2020 to 31.03.2025)   | (ii.) Number of Beneficiaries in Andhra Pradesh (From 01.04.2020 to 31.03.2025)   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S.No.                                                                             | District Name                                                                     | No of Buyers/ Beneficiaries                                                       |
| 1.                                                                                | Alluri Sitharama Raju                                                             | 72262                                                                             |
| 2.                                                                                | Anakapalli                                                                        | 266463                                                                            |
| 3.                                                                                | Anantapur                                                                         | 254850                                                                            |
| 4.                                                                                | Annamayya                                                                         | 243950                                                                            |
| 5.                                                                                | Bapatla                                                                           | 243235                                                                            |
| 6.                                                                                | Chittoor                                                                          | 304141                                                                            |
| 7.                                                                                | East Godavari                                                                     | 200131                                                                            |
| 8.                                                                                | Eluru                                                                             | 268082                                                                            |
| 9.                                                                                | Guntur                                                                            | 191059                                                                            |
| 10.                                                                               | Kakinada                                                                          | 217833                                                                            |
| 11.                                                                               | Konaseema                                                                         | 182707                                                                            |
| 12.                                                                               | Krishna                                                                           | 183312                                                                            |
| 13.                                                                               | Kurnool                                                                           | 285722                                                                            |
| 14.                                                                               | Nandyal                                                                           | 279679                                                                            |
| 15.                                                                               | NTR                                                                               | 160229                                                                            |
| 16.                                                                               | Palnadu                                                                           | 300788                                                                            |
| 17.                                                                               | Parvathipuram Manyam                                                              | 211498                                                                            |
| 18.                                                                               | Prakasam                                                                          | 231572                                                                            |
| 19.                                                                               | Spsr Nellore                                                                      | 284403                                                                            |
| 20.                                                                               | Srikakulam                                                                        | 381063                                                                            |
| 21.                                                                               | Sri Sathya Sai                                                                    | 187579                                                                            |
| 22.                                                                               | Tirupati                                                                          | 281485                                                                            |
| 23.                                                                               | Visakhapatanam                                                                    | 32486                                                                             |
| 24.                                                                               | Vizianagaram                                                                      | 369669                                                                            |
| 25.                                                                               | West Godavari                                                                     | 166769                                                                            |
| 26.                                                                               | Y.S.R.                                                                            | 227441                                                                            |

(SOURCE: iFMS)