Union Minister Bhagirath Choudhary Receives Rs 99 Lakh Subsidy for Cucumber Farm

Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary has received a subsidy of Rs 99.03 lakh for a cucumber cultivation project at his farm in Rajasthan. The funding was provided under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), a scheme overseen by the Union Ministry of Agriculture, where Choudhary serves as an ex-officio Vice-President. The subsidy was granted for a large-scale project covering over 16,000 square meters in Deedwana-Kuchaman district, raising significant questions regarding potential conflicts of interest.

The project received in-principle approval on April 29, 2025, and final clearance on March 11, 2026. Official records confirm the capital investment subsidy was credited to the Minister's HDFC Bank account at the end of March 2026. While the project was cleared by an NHB project approval committee that reportedly does not include the Minister, the nature of the transaction has led to scrutiny of governance and transparency. The Minister’s office has acknowledged the inquiry but remained unavailable for direct comment, noting that project details are to be disclosed to the government.

This case highlights broader debates on the transparency of government-sponsored horticulture schemes, particularly those allowing commercial large-scale farming subsidies. Data indicates that 60 projects received subsidies exceeding Rs 50 lakh each during the 2025-26 fiscal year. As the government faces public scrutiny over the use of these funds, critics are calling for a thorough review of the approval processes for senior officials. The incident is likely to prompt parliamentary discussions regarding the integrity and eligibility criteria of the National Horticulture Board’s subsidy programs.