11th Agriculture Census (2021-22) under way
The 11th Agriculture Census, with reference year 2021-22, began in 2022 and has completed field work and data collection for all three phases on time, the Agriculture Ministry told Parliament on 21 July 2026. The census runs every five years with States and Union Territories.
- Released
- 21 Jul 2026, Agriculture Ministry
- Census
- 11th Agriculture Census
- Reference year
- 2021-22 (commenced 2022)
- Frequency
- Every five years
- Phase I
- Complete enumeration: holdings and area
- Phase II
- 20% sample villages: cropping, irrigation
- Phase III
- 7% sample villages: input-use pattern
The 11th Agriculture Census: what happened?
Agriculture Census data shape land, irrigation, credit, subsidy and gender-focused farm policy. They classify operational holdings as marginal, small, semi-medium, medium and large, and track tenancy and consolidation.
- Phase I covers primary characteristics of holdings on a complete enumeration basis.
- Phase II draws cropping pattern and irrigation status from a 20% village sample in each tehsil.
- Phase III draws input-use patterns from a 7% village sample in each tehsil.
- Outputs support planning for land use, irrigation, crop diversification, mechanisation and inputs, plus woman-operated holdings.
Why does the census matter for policy?
- It underpins allocation of subsidies and credit, rural development targeting, and national and regional farm priorities.
- Researchers and planners use it as a core agriculture-sector database.
How does the three-phase census run?
- Phase I: complete enumeration of holdings and operated area
- Phase II: 20% sample villages — cropping and irrigation
- Phase III: 7% sample villages — input use
- Compile socio-economic database for policy
Why does the 11th Agriculture Census matter?
| Angle | What to note |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | Official map of who farms how much land. |
| Gender | Woman-operated holdings tracked. |
| Federal | Run with States and UTs every five years. |
| Planning | Inputs for irrigation, credit and subsidy design. |
What are the challenges in the 11th Agriculture Census?
- Reference year 2021-22 means results arrive years after the field year.
- Sample phases (20% and 7%) need careful weighting for tehsil comparisons.
- Tenancy data quality depends on local reporting honesty.
What should be done next on the 11th Agriculture Census?
- Release tabulated results for holders by size class.
- Use woman-operated holding data in scheme design.
- Align census outputs with AgriStack and other digital farm databases where relevant.
What can Prelims ask on the 11th Agriculture Census?
- 11th Agriculture Census; reference year 2021-22; every 5 years.
- Phase I complete enumeration; Phase II 20% villages; Phase III 7% villages.
- Holding classes: marginal, small, semi-medium, medium, large.
How to write about the 11th Agriculture Census in Mains
Practice question (10 marks, 150 words): Why is an Agriculture Census still indispensable in the age of satellite and digital farm databases?
- Intro: 11th census phases done.
- What only holding-level data captures.
- Gender and tenancy.
- Limits of delayed reference years.
- Conclusion: census plus digital layers.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-07-21): the 11th Agriculture Census (reference year 2021-22) is conducted every five years with States in three phases.
- Fragmentation shapes farm policy.
Quotable data pointThe 11th Agriculture Census (reference year 2021-22) is conducted every five years with States in three phases.
PIB: Agriculture: Agricultural Census 2021-22, 21 Jul 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: census periodicity.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
In the 11th Agriculture Census, Phase II data are collected from what share of sample villages in each tehsil?
Answer (c) & explanation
Agriculture Ministry, 21 Jul 2026.
The 11th Agriculture Census has which reference year?
Answer (c) & explanation
Agriculture Ministry, 21 Jul 2026.
Questions students ask about this
What is the reference year of the 11th Agriculture Census?
2021-22.
How often is the Agriculture Census conducted?
Every five years.
What share of villages is sampled in Phase II?
20% of sample villages in each tehsil.
What does Phase III capture?
Input-use patterns of operational holdings, from a 7% village sample.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB: Agriculture: Agricultural Census 2021-22, 21 Jul 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending