Fertilizers are essential for crop growth, but their overuse, particularly of urea has created severe environmental, soil, and health problems in India. Farmers often apply excess urea while neglecting other nutrients, leading to imbalance, soil degradation, eutrophication, greenhouse gas emissions, and nitrate-contaminated groundwater linked to serious diseases. Easy availability and uncontrolled subsidies further worsen the issue by encouraging overuse and diversion for non-agricultural purposes. Solutions lie in balanced subsidies, farmer-specific limits, neem-coated urea, and the promotion of sustainable alternatives such as organic inputs, biofertilizers, nanofertilizers, and slow-release formulations to safeguard soil, environment, and human health.