Central Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Bhagirath Choudhary is at the center of a new controversy after a national news outlet reported that he received a government subsidy of about ₹99.60 lakh from the National Horticulture Board (NHB) for a farm project in Rajasthan. The NHB operates under the central agriculture ministry; Choudhary also holds the post of vice‑chairman of the NHB, a fact that has prompted questions about a possible conflict of interest.
According to the report, Choudhary’s project in Ajmer district has a total cost of roughly ₹1.99 crore. The financing breakdown shows a ₹99.60 lakh subsidy from NHB, a ₹1.49 crore loan from HDFC Bank, and the balance covered from his own funds. The project is said to employ protected‑agriculture methods to cultivate the specified crop.
The timeline in the report has drawn particular attention. It states Choudhary first applied to the scheme in 2018 but was denied. He re‑applied on April 15, 2025, and — the report says — received policy approval 14 days later, on April 29, 2025. Critics say the rapid turnaround and his dual role with the NHB raise questions about propriety and transparency.
The NHB responded to the allegations by asserting that final subsidy approvals are granted by an independent approval committee and are not the result of any single individual’s decision. “The final approval is given by an independent approval committee and is not dependent on any personal decision,” the NHB said, according to the report.
Choudhary has defended the application and approval process, telling reporters that he is “a farmer first, then a minister.” He said he disclosed all required information and followed the rules, adding that the subsidy was approved through a transparent process in accordance with government policy.
The controversy highlights concerns that can arise when public officials participate in schemes administered by bodies linked to their own ministry. The NHB’s assertion that approvals are committee‑based and Choudhary’s insistence that procedures were followed frame the immediate response; the matter may prompt further scrutiny of approval procedures and timelines in ministry‑run schemes.
Original Source: https://prathamkhabartv.com/union-minister-bhagirath-choudhary-rs-99-6-lakh-subsidy-cucumber-farm-conflict-of-interest/
Category: leatest update,Social,ভাৰত,Bhagirath Choudhary,Controversy,Union Minister subsidy
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-06-27 18:29:00
