New Delhi, July 17 -- The Union cabinet on Wednesday chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), a Rs.24,000-crore-a-year scheme to boost agriculture and allied sectors in 100 districts starting this financial year. The scheme aims to enhance productivity, increase crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices, while augmenting post-harvest storage at the panchayat and block levels, an official statement said. The programme follows an announcement in the Union Budget 2025-26 of a plan to develop 100 districts, which will be implemented through convergence of 36 existing plans across 11 departments, along with local partnerships with the private sector. PMDDKY, modelled on NITI Aayog's Aspirational Districts Programme, is the first scheme of its kind dedicated exclusively to enhancing farm productivity at the panchayat and block levels. It also envisions improvements in irrigation facilities and facilitate long-term and short-term credit to farmers. "States will be partners. There will be constant monitoring of the scheme at the block level, district level, and state level. Technology partners will be appointed. All stakeholders related to agriculture will be consulted," said Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union minister of information & broadcasting, briefing the media on the cabinet decisions. "About 17 million farmers will benefit from the scheme in the next six years," the minister said, adding that the implementation of the scheme will begin from August. Under the PMDDKY scheme, 100 districts across the country will be identified based on three key indicators-low agricultural productivity, low cropping intensity, and limited credit disbursement. District-wise allocation will be determined by each state or Union Territory's share of Net Cropped Area and operational holdings, with at least one district selected from every state. The district plans will be aligned to the national goals of crop diversification, conservation of water and soil health, self-sufficiency in agriculture and allied sectors as well as expansion of natural and organic farming. The Modi cabinet on Wednesday passed a resolution to welcome the safe return of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla for the successful completion of his 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and asserted that it heralded a new chapter in India's space programme. "This is a moment of pride, glory and joy for the entire nation," said Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw as he read out the resolution at a cabinet briefing on Wednesday....