The World Bank has approved two new projects in India designed to strengthen digital infrastructure in education and agriculture, supporting the country’s wider Viksit Bharat vision. Together, the initiatives will improve the quality of schooling in Punjab and boost incomes for small and marginal farmers in Maharashtra, directly impacting more than 6 million people.
Paul Procee, Acting Country Director for World Bank India, said: “Digital infrastructure has the potential to significantly drive economic development and poverty reduction by increasing efficiency, fostering innovation, and improving outcomes in health, education, agriculture and other essential sectors. The two new projects will support India’s vision of Viksit Bharat through quality education for better jobs and using technology for increased crop productivity and improved livelihoods.”
Digital push for education in Punjab
The Punjab Outcomes-Acceleration in School Education (POISE) programme, backed by $286 million in World Bank financing, aims to lift education quality through targeted technology deployment and improved learning measurement.
The project will:
- Support 1.3 million primary and 2.2 million secondary students.
- Strengthen early childhood education for 592,000 learners.
- Equip schools with digital tools such as computer labs, tablets and projectors to enhance learning in science and mathematics.
- Improve foundational skills, teacher training and school management systems.
Task team leaders Meghna Sharma and Ragnvald Michel Maellberg noted that while Punjab has made substantial progress, “systemic challenges remain, affecting the continuity of education reforms”. POISE aims to tackle these barriers and support learners across every stage of schooling.
Digital precision farming to raise farmer incomes in Maharashtra
The second initiative, the $490 million Maharashtra Project on Climate Resilient Agriculture (POCRA) Phase II, will promote precision agriculture and help farmers adapt to climate pressures. More than 2 million small and marginal farmers, including 290,000 women, will benefit.
The project will use digital and climate-smart tools to:
- Improve soil health and nutrient management.
- Boost water-use efficiency.
- Strengthen resilience to climate variability.
- Increase smallholder farmer incomes by around 30 percent across 21 districts.
Task team leaders Ranjan Samantaray and Ademola Braimoh said the project will “support greater efficiency through data integration, real-time monitoring, remote sensing and AI in agriculture value chains for faster access to markets”. Investments will be shaped through village community groups working alongside agri-tech startups.
Financing terms
- POISE: 19-year maturity, including a five-year grace period.
- POCRA Phase II: 24-year maturity, including a six-year grace period.
Both projects strengthen India’s digital transformation agenda and reflect the World Bank’s focus on inclusive education, climate resilience and technology-enabled development.
