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GS3 · Agriculture

National Beekeeping and Honey Mission: India now second-largest honey exporter

1 min readAnimal Husbandry & FisheriesGovernment Schemes
Battle IAS current affairs title card: National Beekeeping and Honey Mission: India now second-largest honey exporter (GS3 · Agriculture, 2 November 2025)

What happened

  • NBHM is a central sector scheme of ₹500 crore for FY 2020-21 to 2025-26, run by the National Bee Board through three mini missions [PIB].
  • India produced about 1.4 lakh tonnes of natural honey in 2024 and exported about 1.07 lakh tonnes worth USD 177.55 million in FY 2023-24; it is now the second-largest exporter, up from ninth in 2020 [PIB].

Background

  • The Madhukranti portal registers beekeepers and traces the source of honey [PIB].

Why it matters

  • Bees also raise crop yields through pollination. Adulteration scandals make traceability the key to export trust.

How to use this in Mains

GS-III Agriculture: cropping, MSP, PDS, food processing, land reforms

  1. As per PIB (2025-11-02): NBHM is a central sector scheme of ₹500 crore for FY 2020-21 to 2025-26, run by the National Bee Board through three mini missions.
  2. Bees also raise crop yields through pollination. Adulteration scandals make traceability the key to export trust.
Quotable data point

India produced about 1.4 lakh tonnes of natural honey in 2024 and exported about 1.07 lakh tonnes worth USD 177.55 million in FY 2023-24; it is now the second-largest exporter, up from ninth in 2020.

PIB: PIB Backgrounder: National Beekeeping & Honey Mission, 2 Nov 2025

Exam angle

UPSC

Prelims: Sweet Revolution, Madhukranti.

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

NBHM outlay

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB.

Practice · UPSC

India's rank among honey exporters now

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB.

Practice · UPSC

Portal for honey traceability

Answer (a) & explanation

PIB.

Go deeper

ExplainerPM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana: Convergence of 36 Schemes in 100 Low-Productivity Districts, Selection Criteria, Monitoring and the Aspirational Districts Model (UPSC Notes + PYQs)ExplainerJal Jeevan Mission (Har Ghar Jal): Functional Household Tap Connections, 55 LPCD, Funding Pattern, Community Ownership, Water Quality, Progress and Challenges (UPSC Notes + PYQs)

Official source: PIB: PIB Backgrounder: National Beekeeping & Honey Mission, 2 Nov 2025

facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending