Agricultural Revolutions and Reforms
Revolutions
| Revolution | Product | Leader / year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Revolution | Foodgrains (wheat, rice) | M. S. Swaminathan (India), Norman Borlaug (global); 1966-67 onwards | HYV seeds, fertilisers, irrigation; Punjab, Haryana, western UP |
| White Revolution (Operation Flood) | Milk | Verghese Kurien, 1970 | NDDB, Amul; India is the top milk producer |
| Blue Revolution | Fish | Neelakranti Mission | Fisheries; Andhra, West Bengal, Gujarat, Kerala |
| Yellow Revolution | Oilseeds | 1986 Technology Mission on Oilseeds | Mustard, sesame |
| Pink Revolution | Prawn, onion, meat | Onion and shrimp exports | |
| Silver Revolution | Eggs, poultry | ||
| Golden Revolution | Horticulture, honey | 1991-2003 | Apple, mango |
| Round / Evergreen Revolution | Potato; sustainable agriculture | Swaminathan suggests "evergreen" | |
| Red Revolution | Tomato, meat | ||
| Brown Revolution | Leather, non-conventional | ||
| Grey Revolution | Fertiliser |
Green Revolution: pros and cons
- Gains: self-sufficiency in foodgrains, higher yield, buffer stocks, Indian agricultural research and extension.
- Problems: regional inequality (Punjab, Haryana), water depletion, soil salinity, chemical use, loss of crop diversity, farmer debt.
- Second Green Revolution emphasises eastern India and sustainable practices.
Institutions
- ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research, 1929); IARI Pusa, New Delhi; NABARD (1982, rural credit); FCI; CACP; NDDB, NAFED, National Seeds Corporation.
- Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) at district level.
Recent reforms and schemes (check the latest)
- PM-KISAN (2019): income support of Rs 6,000 a year to farmer families.
- PM Fasal Bima Yojana (2016): crop insurance.
- Kisan Credit Card; e-NAM (online mandi); Soil Health Card.
- National Mission on Natural Farming (2024).
- Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (2020).
- Three farm laws (2020) were repealed in 2021.
- FPOs: 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations scheme.
- National Agriculture Market, MSP, procurement, and the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (announced in 2025; check status).
- Targets such as "doubling farmers' income by 2022" were not fully achieved.
Keep practising
Notes are only half the work. Test yourself with questions and discuss doubts with other aspirants.
Prepared for exam revision from NCERT, standard geography textbooks, the Census of India 2011, the India State of Forest Report, IMD, Ministry of Agriculture and other official sources. Maps are schematic teaching maps, not Survey of India maps, and zone boundaries are approximate. Figures such as production, capacity, counts of parks and ports, and census status change, so check the latest official source before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.