Form 21: Form for notification of an agricultural extension project under section 47(1)(a)
Source checked 21 October 2026 · Original author: Finin2min Editorial Desk
Purpose, person and period
Form for notification of an agricultural extension project under section 47(1)(a).
The notifying authority records the agricultural-extension project, period, expenses, beneficiary charge and conditions. This is an authority notification, not an applicant declaration.
Period gate: This numbered form belongs to the Income-tax Rules, 2026, effective 1 April 2026. The predecessor 3CP is a concordance, not permission to change an earlier-year filing into a new-law form. For earlier periods, use the applicable 1961 Act form and saved procedure.
Controlling rule and source pages
Rule 37; Section 47(1). Physical PDF pp 334-334; printed Gazette pp 1866-1866.
Rule 37 — connected rule text
37. Procedure for approval of agricultural extension project under section 47(1)(a). – (1) The agricultural extension project (herein referred as the project) shall be considered for notification, if it fulfils the following conditions,:— (a) the project shall be undertaken by an assessee for training, education and guidance of farmers; (b) the project shall have prior approval of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India; and (c) an expenditure (not being expenditure in the nature of cost of any land or building) exceeding the amount of ₹ 25,00,000 is expected to be incurred for the project. (2) Before undertaking any project, an assessee shall make an application in Form No. 20 to the Member (IT), CBDT for notification of such project under section 47(1)(a). (3) The application referred to in sub-rule (2) shall also be accompanied by– (a) a letter approving the project and specifying the amount of expenditure expected to be incurred on the project, from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India; (b) a detailed note on the agricultural extension project to be undertaken by the assessee; and (c) details of the expenditure expected to be incurred on the project and expected date of completion of the project. [PDF PAGE 31] [भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारतकाराजपत्र:असाधारण 1563 (4) Where any defect is noticed in the application referred to in sub -rule (2) or a relevant document is not attached thereto, the Board shall, before the expiry of one month from the end of the month in which the application is received in its office, intimate the defect to the applicant for its rectification. (5) The applicant shall remove the defect within a period of one month form the end of the month in which intimation letter is served on him. (6) Where the applicant fails to remove the deficiency within the period mentioned in sub -rule (5), the Board shall, within one month from the time period specified in the said sub-rule, pass an order treating the application as invalid. (7) If the application is complete in all respe cts, the Board shall, within two months from the end of the quarter in which it receives such application, issue a notification under section 47(1)(a) in Form No. 21 specifying the project, subject to the conditions mentioned in rule 38 or such other condi tions, as it may deem fit, to be effective for such period not exceeding three tax years. (8) The assessee, may, at least three months before the expiry of the effective period of the notification issued under sub-rule (7), make an application to the Board for notification of such project for a further period. (9) The Board shall, after receiving the application under sub -rule (8), call for a report from the Commissioner of Income-tax, having jurisdiction over the case regarding the activities of the proj ect during the period of notification and fulfilment of conditions specified in rule 38 including any other conditions, if any, subject to which the project was notified under sub-rule (7). (10) On being satisfied with the report received under sub -rule (9) on the project, the Board may, within two months from the end of the quarter in which it receives application referred to in sub -rule (8), notify the said project for a further period not exceeding three tax years. (11) The Board may, on being satisfied that–– (a) the assessee has ceased its activities, or that its activities are not genuine; or (b) its activities are not being carried out in accordance with all or any of the relevant provisions of this rule or rule 38; or (c) its activities are not be ing carried out in accordance with all or any of the conditions subject to which the notification was issued, pass an order for revocation of the notification issued under sub -rule (7) or sub -rule (10) after providing a reasonable opportunity of being heard. (12) A copy of notification, approval, rejection, or cancellation shall be communicated to– (a) the applicant; (b) the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India; (c) the Commissioner of Income-tax having jurisdiction over the applicant; (d) the Department of Agriculture of the concerned State; and (e) the Agricultural Technology Management Agency of the concerned district.
Completed field illustration
Fictional data, not for filing. A neutral model identifies fields in a hypothetical agricultural-extension notification; no notification is issued.
| Form field / block | Completed fictional entry |
|---|---|
| Applicant / project | Example Agri Services Ltd / Model Soil Advisory Project |
| Project location / objectives | Two fictional villages / soil-testing and records training |
| Applicant address / PAN | 10 Model Road, Pune / synthetic ZZZCE0000Z |
| Application reference / date | MODEL-APP-020 / 1 December 2026 |
| Commencement / duration / notified years | 1 April 2027 / 24 months / 2027-28 and 2028-29 |
| Amount charged from each beneficiary | Nil |
| Approval period fields | 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029 - hypothetical |
| Capital / revenue / total budget | Rs 10,00,000 / Rs 30,00,000 / Rs 40,00,000 |
| Conditions field | Programme expenditure and progress records - illustrative only |
| Notification / authority fields | MODEL-NOTIFICATION-021 / prescribed-authority role |
| Authentication | NOT ISSUED; NOT SIGNED |
This illustrates the named fields, not every possible schedule. Use the complete official extract for additional applicable fields, annexures and verification. “Not signed” means no professional certification or authority action has occurred.
Reconcile the example
- Budget and dates agree with the Form 20 application example.
Prepare, furnish and retain
- Use the form identity and period above, then determine the person who prepares, issues or verifies it from Rule 37. An authority-issued order is not an applicant filing.
- Collect the records that support the actual fields in the example; keep any mandatory schedules and annexures specified in the complete source form.
- Reconcile dates, amounts, units and identifiers to the underlying records. Preserve the applicable rule version and any later correcting notification.
- Where the rule prescribes electronic furnishing, use the current official utility/schema and authorised verification. A local PDF does not produce a portal acknowledgement.
- Retain the submitted version, supporting schedules and actual acknowledgement or issued certificate/order, as applicable. This fictional model supplies none of those evidential outcomes.
Download the correct documents
Official Form 21 source extract Filled sample — fictional field illustration
The official extract preserves source pages; later amendments are supplied with affected forms. Read the April corrigendum where its printed-page corrections apply. The filled field illustration is an educational model and cannot be filed.
Primary sources
Questions readers ask
Does this sample prove approval, filing or a professional conclusion?
No. It completes the named fields using synthetic facts. It has no real signature, DSC, approval or acknowledgement.
Can I use the legacy form number for a current tax-year obligation?
Establish the governing period first. A predecessor number is a cross-reference; earlier-year procedures and current-year forms must be kept distinct.