IN JUNE 2026, an investigative report by The Indian Express revealed that the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Bhagirati Choudhary, availed ₹99-lakh subsidy for his cucumber farm in Rajasthan that was given out by his own ministry. Along with the minister, family members of IAS Naresh Pal Gangwar, who is serving as who is currently serving as the Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), were also among the beneficiaries of the National Horticulture Board’s scheme, posing questions of conflict of interest

In what can be called as the after effect of the expose, on August 21, 2026, the government issued a notice amending its Horticulture scheme guidelines. Under the new rules the ministry has officially kept ministers, MPs, MLAs, and other government officials out of the beneficiary list, while also capping benefits availed by their family members.

New Farmers’ Welfare Scheme Guideline for Ministers and Officials

According to The Indian Express, the NHB— an autonomous body under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare— brought the new amendments on August 21, 2026. The amended ‘Scheme Guidelines of Commercial Horticulture and Cold Storage Schemes’ have barred the government officials from the schemes and also redefined what constitutes the ‘family’ of the concerned category of officials. The official circular issued by the NHB reads, “With a view to rationalise financial assistance, ensure equitable distribution of benefits, prevent duplication of subsidy, and make the implementation of the Schemes more transparent and effective, following amendments in the Scheme Guidelines shall be applicable with immediate effect.”

The official scheme was brought in with the aim to promote commercial farming of horticulture crops on a large scale. It includes three types of vegetable — capsicum, cucumber, and tomato under its provision, along with eight varieties of flowers including roses, lilium, Chrysanthemum, and anthurium.

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The government has barred five categories of people from the NHB schemes under the new guidelines. These are: i) present holders of constitutional posts; ii) present ministers and ministers of state, members of Parliament, members of State Legislative Assemblies/Councils, mayors of municipal corporations, and chairpersons of district panchayats; iii) serving employees of of Central/State Government ministries and departments, PSUs, autonomous bodies, and local bodies (except MTS/CIass-lV/Group D employees); iv) Superannuated/retired pensioners receiving a monthly pension of ₹10,000 or more, excluding MTS/Class-lV/Group D employees; v) Group of Farmers.

NHB’s New Guidelines for Family Members

The official circular also set rules for family members of the above categories. The limit for them availing benefits is also set at maximum one per family. The new guidelines state, “Family members of persons falling in the above categories may, however, avail one-time assistance, subject to the applicable provisions of the revised definition of family.”

The Ministry has also redefined what it constitutes as family. According to the old guidelines, “husband, wife, and dependent minor children,” were the ones included in the official definition of ‘family.’ However, the new guidelines reads, “For the purpose of determining eligibility under NHB Schemes, the term ‘family’ shall comprise the applicant’s spouse, father, mother, sons and daughters.”

This is a significant step as The Indian Express article reported that in addition to Bhagirath Choudhary,  wife, son, and mother of IAS Naresh Pal Gangwar — all of whom will fall under the definition of ‘family’ under the new rules— had also availed benefits under the old guidelines.

The new rules have also put measures to block officials’ families from availing benefits multiple times under different members. The notice reads, “Financial assistance availed by any member of a family shall be treated as financial assistance availed by the same family. Once financial assistance has been availed by any member of an applicant’s family under any NHB Scheme/component, no further financial assistance shall be admissible to any other member of the same family under any NHB Scheme/component, irrespective of any unutilised portion of the maximum admissible ceiling.”

The government notifies that it has extended new guidelines and its definition of family across all NHB schemes and components. It also warns that “suppression, misrepresentation or furnishing of incorrect information” to avail financial benefits under public welfare schemes will make the applicant liable for the recovery of the assistance released along with interest.

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