Government Launches Bharat-VISTAAR: AI-Powered Digital Platform for Farmers

The Government of India has rolled out Bharat‑VISTAAR, an artificial intelligence–driven digital platform designed to deliver personalised agricultural advisory services to farmers across the country. The initiative was announced in the Union Budget 2026–27 with a total allocation of ₹150 crore, reflecting the government’s push to integrate advanced technologies into the agricultural sector.

Developed as a multilingual, AI-powered, voice-first Digital Public Infrastructure platform, Bharat-VISTAAR aims to provide farmers with reliable, real-time and location-specific agricultural guidance while enabling seamless access to various government schemes and support services.

Integrated Agricultural Knowledge Platform

The platform integrates data from multiple government digital ecosystems and scientific research institutions, including the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Using these resources, Bharat-VISTAAR delivers personalised advisories related to crop management, weather updates, market prices, pest and disease alerts, and soil health insights.

The system is designed to provide farmers with a single unified interface through which they can access critical agricultural information and government programmes in a simplified and accessible format.

Phase-I Launch and Accessibility

The Phase-I version of Bharat-VISTAAR, launched on 17 February 2026, is currently available in Hindi and English. Farmers can access the platform through multiple channels, including:

• A dedicated telephone helpline (155261)
• A voice-based AI chatbot
• A web portal hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (India)
• A downloadable mobile application

The platform has been designed with a voice-first interface to ensure accessibility for farmers who may not be comfortable with text-based digital systems.

Integration with Major Government Schemes

In its first phase, Bharat-VISTAAR integrates ten major central government agricultural schemes, enabling farmers to access scheme-related information and services from a single digital platform. These include:

• PM‑KISAN
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
• Soil Health Card Scheme
• Kisan Credit Card
• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
• PM‑AASHA
• Modified Interest Subvention Scheme
• Per Drop More Crop
• Sub‑Mission on Agricultural Mechanization

By linking these schemes within a single ecosystem, the platform aims to simplify access to government services and improve awareness among farmers.

Multilingual Expansion and Farmer Outreach

The government plans to expand the platform’s linguistic coverage to ensure wider accessibility. Four additional languages are expected to be added within the next three months, followed by five more languages within six months, enabling farmers across diverse regions to interact with the system in their preferred language.

To ensure inclusivity, the platform also supports voice-based services and Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) access. This allows small and marginal farmers without smartphones to receive advisories and information through simple telephone calls.

Future development phases will also integrate state-specific agricultural schemes, regional extension services, and farmer awareness programmes aimed at improving digital adoption in rural areas.

Data Security and Legal Compliance

The development and deployment of Bharat-VISTAAR comply with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and other relevant information technology laws. The platform also follows cybersecurity guidelines issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Computer Emergency Response Team‑India.

Government agencies conduct periodic security audits of the system to ensure strong data protection standards and mitigate cyber risks.

Government Statement

The information regarding the rollout of Bharat-VISTAAR was shared by Bhagirath Choudhary, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

With the introduction of Bharat-VISTAAR, the government aims to strengthen digital agriculture infrastructure and empower farmers with technology-driven decision-making tools that can improve productivity, resilience, and access to government support systems across India.

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Source: PIB

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