India has developed its first hectare-level digital soil texture map, created by the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The map uses field observations, remote sensing, satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to provide detailed information about the texture of soil across the country. Soil texture refers to the proportion of sand, silt and clay present in soil. This is important because soil texture affects water retention, drainage, aeration, nutrient availability and crop growth. The key purpose of the map is to help farmers and agricultural planners make more scientific, location-specific decisions about crop selection, irrigation and soil management, rather than relying mainly on traditional practices or broad regional estimates. This is particularly significant in India, where soil characteristics can vary considerably even across relatively small areas.