India expands e-way bill tracking to curb subsidised fertilizer diversion
The government is using e-way bill data and a dedicated fertilizer management system to detect and stop diversion of heavily subsidised fertilizer amid supply concerns.
Concern over fertilizer availability after the Iran war led the Finance Ministry to study the market and alert the Fertiliser Ministry about hoarding and diversion. Authorities rely on the e-way bill platform, which records consignments above Rs 50,000, to generate a digital audit trail, and supplement it with the Integrated Fertiliser Management System to monitor distribution of heavily subsidised fertilizer. A parliamentary standing committee reported instances of partial unloading and rerouting from rail rakes to remote, mountainous districts, especially in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand.
In response, enforcement agencies conducted 4.8 lakh raids across India in 2025, issuing more than 17,000 notices, cancelling close to 7,000 licences and registering roughly 850 FIRs against alleged violators. The government also worries about fertilizer being smuggled across borders by road. Combining e-way bill analytics, iFMS data and field enforcement gives officials stronger tools to plug leaks and ensure subsidised fertilizer reaches intended farmers.
Why it matters
Ensuring subsidised fertilizer reaches farmers helps maintain food security and prevents loss of public funds.
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