India has unveiled Bharat-VISTAAR, a multilingual artificial intelligence (AI)-driven platform aimed at transforming farm advisory services.

Announced in the Union Budget 2026, the initiative plans to integrate existing agricultural databases with research-based guidance to improve decision-making and productivity for farmers nationwide.

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What Bharat-VISTAAR Is and How It Works?

Bharat-VISTAAR, short for Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources, is a unified digital interface that allows farmers to access verified, location-specific advisories in different languages. The system combines government-maintained AgriStack portals with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s (ICAR) research-backed practices, using AI to analyse data on soil, weather, crops and farm inputs.

The platform will deliver practical guidance on crop selection, irrigation, fertilisation, pest control and harvesting through a single gateway. The multilingual setup will increase accessibility for farmers across regions and language groups.

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Policy Context and Expected Impact

The launch of Bharat-VISTAAR is part of the Indian government’s broader initiative to digitise agriculture and introduce advanced technology for rural services.

Union Budget 2026 has highlighted AI as a strategic tool to boost productivity and reduce risk in farming. Government sources note the first phase will support Hindi and English, with plans to add regional languages over time. An initial budget allocation of ₹150 crore has been announced for the platform’s development in the 2026–27 fiscal year.

The platform has the potential to reshape last-mile advisory delivery by reducing reliance on multiple, fragmented information sources. It aligns with policy priorities to make scientific farming advice more timely and actionable, especially for small and marginal farmers.