Soil Health Card Scheme (SHC) is the Government of India’s flagship soil testing initiative launched on 19 February 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Suratgarh, Rajasthan with the slogan “Swasth Dhara, Khet Hara” (Healthy Earth, Green Farm) 1. After 10 years, it has become the world’s largest soil testing program – over 25 crore Soil Health Cards distributed, 8,272 soil labs, Rs 1,706 crore funding, available in 22 languages + 5 dialects 2.
If you are searching for SHC scheme benefits, 12 parameters, how to apply online at soilhealth.dac.gov.in, how to download PDF, eligibility, or helpline number – this is the most complete, publish-ready guide compiled from soilhealth.dac.gov.in, PIB, Vikaspedia, Wikipedia, and Department of Agriculture.
SHC Wiki / Quick Info Table
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Soil Health Card |
| Scheme Name | Soil Health Card Scheme (SHC) |
| Launched On | 19 February 2015 3 |
| Launched At | Suratgarh, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan |
| Launched By | Prime Minister Narendra Modi |
| Ministry | Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Dept of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare |
| Initial Budget | Rs 568 crore (2015-18) 3 |
| Current Umbrella | Merged into Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) as “Soil Health & Fertility” component since 2022-23 4 |
| Type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
| Target | All farmers – 14 crore farm holdings across India |
| Testing Cycle | Every 2 years (officially every 3 years as per some state guidelines) – reissued to track changes 5 |
| Cost to Farmer | Completely Free – Govt pays Rs 190 per sample for collection, testing, card distribution |
| Parameters Tested | 12 parameters – N, P, K, S, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, B, pH, EC, OC |
| Grid Size | 2.5 ha in irrigated areas, 10 ha in rainfed areas – GPS-based sampling 5 |
| Portal | https://soilhealth.dac.gov.in |
| Mobile App | Soil Health Card (SHC) App on Google Play – for VLEs & STLs 6 |
| Helpline | Kisan Call Center Toll-Free 1800-180-1551, Email: helpdesk-soil@gov.in, Phone: 011-24305591 / 011-24305948 7 |
| Achievements | Cycle I (2015-17): 11.69 crore cards, Cycle II (2017-19): 11.08 crore cards, Total 23+ crore till 2024, now 25 crore+ 5 |
What is Soil Health Card Scheme? About
“Under the scheme, the government plans to issue soil cards to farmers which will carry crop-wise recommendations of nutrients and fertilisers required for the individual farms to help farmers to improve productivity through judicious use of inputs.” – Wikipedia 3
Before 2015, most farmers never tested soil – they applied urea/DAP based on habit or neighbour. This led to N:P:K ratio of 8:2:3 vs optimal 4:2:1, widespread deficiency of zinc, boron, sulphur, low organic carbon, declining response ratio, and soil degradation. SHC was launched in International Year of Soils (2015) to universalize soil testing.
A Soil Health Card is a printed/digital report containing:
- Farmer details – name, village, survey/Khasra number, area
- Soil test results – values for 12 parameters + rating Low/Medium/High
- Crop-specific fertilizer dosage recommendation (kg/ha for N, P, K + micro-nutrients)
- Soil amendment measures for saline/alkaline/acidic soil (gypsum/lime)
- Integrated Nutrient Management advisory
Card is available for printing in 22 languages from SHC portal 8.
Objectives of SHC Scheme
- Soil nutrient status assessment – Test every soil sample for 12 parameters 5
- Customised recommendations – Provide nutrient and fertilizer dosage specific to soil and crop
- Improved nutrient management – Help farmers use right fertilizer in right amount – improving yields while reducing excess
- Promote balanced use – Reduce overuse of urea, promote organic manure, bio-fertilizers
- Strengthen labs – Develop soil testing infrastructure – 3887 labs initially, now 8272 labs + mobile labs
- Build single database – Create national soil health database for research and planning
Long-term goal: Cut fertilizer subsidy waste (potential saving Rs 8,000-10,000 crore/year) while boosting productivity.
12 Soil Parameters Tested – Detailed
| Category | Parameters | Why Important? |
|---|---|---|
| Macro-nutrients | Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K) | Primary growth nutrients |
| Secondary nutrient | Sulphur (S) | Protein synthesis, oilseed yield |
| Micro-nutrients | Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Boron (B) | Critical for enzyme function – Zn deficiency very common in India |
| Physical Parameters | pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC) | pH tells acidity/alkalinity, EC salinity, OC overall soil health |
Card shows current status + how much urea, DAP, potash, zinc sulphate, gypsum etc. to apply per acre.
Benefits of Soil Health Card Scheme
- Fertilizer cost saving 10-15% – stops blind urea overuse 9
- Yield improvement 5-10% average, 15-20% in zinc-deficient soils when recommendations followed 5
- Identifies hidden deficiencies – sulphur, zinc, boron deficiency widespread but invisible without test
- Reduces environmental pollution – less nutrient runoff into water
- Improves long-term soil fertility – tracks changes every 2-3 years
- Free of cost – Rs 190 per sample borne by govt
- Helps government – monitor soil health trends at state/district level
- Linkage – Integrates with PM-KISAN, PMFBY, Soil Health & Fertility under RKVY, Per Drop More Crop (fertigation advice)
Who is Eligible? – No Restrictions
“There are no definite eligibility criteria – it aims to cover as many farmers as possible. Hence, all farmers can apply.” 10
- Any farmer with cultivable land in India – small, marginal, large, tenant, leaseholder, sharecropper (with permission), FPOs, cooperatives 11
- No income criterion, no age barrier, no category restriction 1
- Priority: Small & marginal farmers, women farmers, SC/ST farmers, aspirational districts receive priority at collection camps and KVK centres 1
- Both Kharif and Rabi lands covered
How Soil Sample Collection Works (Grid-Based)
- Grid Division: Agricultural land divided into grids – 2.5 ha irrigated, 10 ha rainfed using GPS + revenue maps 5
- Timing: Twice a year – post-Rabi and post-Kharif or during fallow period, when no standing crop
- Depth: Sample taken from 15-20 cm depth at 5 spots (4 corners + centre) in V-shaped cut, mixed to make 500g composite sample
- QR Code & App: Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) use SHC app with QR code, farmer location tracking 6
- Lab Testing: Sent to Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs) – 1200+ static + mobile labs initially, now 8272 labs run by agriculture dept, ICAR, KVKs, SAUs
- Card Generation: Results uploaded to portal, recommendation algorithm generates card automatically
- Delivery: Card delivered via gram panchayat, agriculture officer, or SMS/portal download – ready in 15-30 days after sampling 1
How to Apply for Soil Health Card – Online & Offline
Online – via soilhealth.dac.gov.in (2026 Process)
- Visit Official Portal: https://soilhealth.dac.gov.in 12
- Go to Farmer’s Corner: Homepage → “Farmer’s Corner” → “Apply for Soil Testing” / “Register New User” 1
- Select State & Login: Choose state → Continue → Register New User → Enter User Organisation Details, User Details, login, language → Submit → Get registration ID
- Enter Land & Crop Details: Survey number / Khata-Khasra number, village, tehsil, district, crop (Rabi/Kharif), area in hectares 1
- Upload Documents: Aadhaar (mandatory), land records photo (under 1 MB), PM-KISAN ID (optional but speeds verification), mobile number (Aadhaar-linked)
- OTP Verification: Enter OTP sent to Aadhaar-linked mobile → Submit
- Schedule Collection: State agriculture dept staff contacts you to schedule sample collection, or directs to nearest soil testing lab
- Track Status: Farmer’s Corner → Soil Health Card Status → Enter Aadhaar / Application ID → OTP → View stage: sample collected → under analysis → card generated → available for download 1
- Download PDF: Farmer’s Corner → Print Your Soil Health Card → Select State, District, Sub-District, Village → Search by farmer name / Farmer ID / Aadhaar → Print/Download in your language (22 languages available) 1
Offline – via KVK / CSC / Agriculture Office (Best for No Internet)
- Visit Nearest: Block-level Krishi Vigyan Kendra (1000+ KVKs under ICAR), District Agriculture Office, Soil Testing Lab, or Common Service Centre (CSC)
- Fill SHC Form: Provide Aadhaar number, land details (Khasra/Khata), crop type, contact number
- Sample Collection: Trained staff or VLE collects sample or guides you
- Fee: Completely Free – govt funded. CSC may charge nominal service charge Rs 15-20 for operator time, not govt fee 13
- Get Card in 15-30 Days via CSC print or mail
Alternative: Khet Swasth Khet portal, Har Khet Swasth Khet portal for download.
Documents Required
| Document | Purpose | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar Card | Identity verification & OTP login | Yes 1 |
| Aadhaar-linked Mobile | OTP & SMS updates | Yes |
| Land Records (Khata/Khasra/Survey No.) | Plot identification | Yes |
| PM Kisan Registration ID | Links SHC to PM Kisan, speeds verification | Optional |
| Crop Details | Rabi/Kharif crop type | Yes |
| Passport Photo | For offline form | Offline only |
| Bank Passbook | If state requires for DBT linkage | Sometimes |
Soil Health Card Performance – 10 Years
| Cycle | Period | Cards Distributed | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cycle I | 2015-16 to 2016-17 | 11.69 crore (some sources 10.74 cr) 5 | 14 crore samples (2.53 cr samples needed) |
| Cycle II | 2017-18 to 2018-19 | 11.08 crore (some sources 12.19 cr) | Re-testing to track changes |
| Total till 2024 | 23+ crore 5 | – | – |
| Total till 2025 | 24.74-25 crore cards, 8,272 labs, Rs 1,706 cr funding, 1,987 soil maps | – | – |
Yield Impact: Studies show 8-10% yield increase with adoption, but adoption rate only 25-35% – main challenge is local availability of recommended micro-nutrients 5.
Contact Details & Helpline – Official
Official Portal: https://soilhealth.dac.gov.in 3
Email (Helpdesk): helpdesk-soil@gov.in 7
Phone (SHC Cell): 011-24305591, 011-24305948 7
Kisan Call Center (Toll-Free, 22 Languages, Mon-Sat): 1800-180-1551 12
SHC App Support: Soilhealthcard.support@krishitantra.com 6
Parent Department:
Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare,
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare,
Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001
Website: agricoop.nic.in / agriwelfare.gov.in
State Level: Contact your District Agriculture Officer, Block Agriculture Officer, KVK, or Soil Testing Lab – list available on portal’s Contact Us page.
For Village Youth Wanting to Open Soil Lab: Any village youth/farmer up to 40 years can open soil testing lab – Govt bears 75% lab cost, youth 25% – contact state agriculture dept.
FAQs – Soil Health Card Scheme
Q. When was Soil Health Card Scheme launched?
19 Feb 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan by PM Narendra Modi 3.
Q. Is SHC free?
Yes, completely free – sample collection, testing, card issuance all govt-funded. Don’t pay any agent – report to 1800-180-1551 if asked 1.
Q. How often is card issued?
Every 2 years per landholding (some states say 3 years) to track changes 5.
Q. What is in Soil Health Card?
12 parameters test + crop-wise fertilizer recommendation – how much urea, DAP, potash, zinc, etc. to apply.
Q. How to download SHC PDF?
soilhealth.dac.gov.in → Farmer’s Corner → Print Your Soil Health Card → Select State/District/Village → Search by name/Aadhaar → Download. Also via CSC.
Q. Can tenant farmers apply?
Yes, if cultivating land and providing proof, they are eligible 11.
Q. What if my village never had sampling?
Contact local KVK or Block Agriculture Office proactively to include your land in current cycle – sampling is organized at district/block level 12.
Why SHC Matters in 2026
- Fertilizer overuse crisis – SHC reduces 10-15% chemical use, saves Rs 8,000-10,000 cr subsidy
- Integrates with Per Drop More Crop (fertigation advice based on SHC), PKVY (organic input based on OC), PM-KISAN, RKVY Soil Health & Fertility
- AI-powered soil testing + mobile apps in 2025 make application easier
- High search demand: “soil health card download”, “soilhealth.dac.gov.in login”, “SHC status check” – evergreen farmer query
Sources: Agrijob SHC 2026 guide 1, Wikipedia SHC 3, Anantam IAS UPSC guide 5, Vikaspedia SHC components 2, Tata AIA how to apply 10, SchemesInIndia 12 parameters 9, EGovtSchemes download process 12, Play Store SHC app 6, Aditya Birla Capital contact 7.
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