Context: Biostimulants are being promoted as a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to enhance agricultural productivity in India.
About Biostimulants
- Definition: Substances or micro-organisms that stimulate natural plant processes, independent of nutrient content.
- Objective:
- Enhance nutrient uptake.
- Boost stress tolerance (drought, salinity, heat).
- Improve crop quality and yield.
- Support resilience under climate stressors.
- Regulation: Covered under Fertiliser Control Order (FCO), 1985.
Significance
- Nutrient-use Efficiency: Reduces dependency on chemical fertilizers.
- Soil Health: Enhances soil microbial biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
- Climate Resilience: Helps crops withstand dynamic climate conditions.
- Circular Bioeconomy: Supports sustainable agriculture and resource recycling.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
