Bharat-VISTAAR AI Tool Launched for Farmers with ₹150 Crore Outlay

Key facts

• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources) in Jaipur.
• The AI-powered multilingual tool was announced by the Finance Minister in the Union Budget 2026-27 with an allocation of ₹150 crore.
• It is a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) initiative designed to provide farmers with a single digital doorway for information on crop planning, agricultural practices, and weather forecasts.
• Farmers can access the AI Assistant, named Bharati, by dialling the dedicated telephone number 155261 or through a mobile application.
• At launch, the tool provides information on 10 major central schemes: PM-KISAN, PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Soil Health Card (SHC), Modified Interest Subvention Scheme, Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation, Per Drop More Crop, PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), PM Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA), Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), and Kisan Credit Card (KCC).
• The platform integrates scientific knowledge from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to offer advice on crops, livestock, and pest alerts.
• The service is initially available in English and Hindi, with plans to expand to 11 languages, including Tamil, Bengali, Assamese, and Kannada, within six months.
• Regional access is provided through specific interfaces: Vasudha for Marathi, Sarlaben for Gujarati, and the Bihar Krishi App for Hindi speakers in Bihar.