diff --git a/lib/mgmt_be_client.c b/lib/mgmt_be_client.c
index 7bd9980357d5..0b69e04e4c1d 100644
--- a/lib/mgmt_be_client.c
+++ b/lib/mgmt_be_client.c
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ static int mgmt_be_txn_cfg_prepare(struct mgmt_be_txn_ctx *txn)
 				client_ctx->candidate_config,
 				txn_req->req.set_cfg.cfg_changes,
 				(size_t)txn_req->req.set_cfg.num_cfg_changes,
-				NULL, NULL, 0, err_buf, sizeof(err_buf),
+				NULL, NULL, 0, false, err_buf, sizeof(err_buf),
 				&error);
 			if (error) {
 				err_buf[sizeof(err_buf) - 1] = 0;
diff --git a/lib/northbound.c b/lib/northbound.c
index 69b96d365693..f4fa88a007e7 100644
--- a/lib/northbound.c
+++ b/lib/northbound.c
@@ -500,6 +500,27 @@ static void nb_config_diff_deleted(const struct lyd_node *dnode, uint32_t *seq,
 	}
 }
 
+/*
+ * Check if a data node already exists in one of the config change
+ * entry. If so return the exact config change entry.
+ */
+static struct nb_config_change *nb_config_find_change(struct nb_config_cbs *changes,
+						      struct lyd_node *dnode)
+{
+	struct nb_config_cb *cb;
+	struct nb_config_change *chg = NULL;
+
+	RB_FOREACH (cb, nb_config_cbs, changes) {
+		chg = (struct nb_config_change *)cb;
+
+		zlog_debug("%s: Dnode: %p", __func__, chg->cb.dnode);
+		if (chg->cb.dnode == dnode)
+			return chg;
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
 static int nb_lyd_diff_get_op(const struct lyd_node *dnode)
 {
 	const struct lyd_meta *meta;
@@ -753,6 +774,10 @@ int nb_candidate_edit(struct nb_config *candidate,
 	return NB_OK;
 }
 
+/*
+ * Update changes to the scratch buffer associated with the specifc
+ * candidate data tree.
+ */
 static void nb_update_candidate_changes(struct nb_config *candidate,
 					struct nb_cfg_change *change,
 					uint32_t *seq)
@@ -763,14 +788,49 @@ static void nb_update_candidate_changes(struct nb_config *candidate,
 	struct lyd_node *dnode;
 	struct nb_config_cbs *cfg_chgs = &candidate->cfg_chgs;
 	int op;
+	bool new = false, delete = false;
+	struct nb_config_change *chg = NULL;
+	char dn_xpath[XPATH_MAXLEN];
 
 	switch (oper) {
 	case NB_OP_CREATE:
+		root = yang_dnode_get(candidate->dnode, xpath);
+		new = true;
+		zlog_debug("%s: Dnode: %p, XPath: %s, Oper: CREATE",
+			   __func__, root, xpath);
+		break;
 	case NB_OP_MODIFY:
 		root = yang_dnode_get(candidate->dnode, xpath);
+		zlog_debug("%s: Dnode: %p, XPath: %s, Oper: MODIFY",
+			   __func__, root, xpath);
 		break;
 	case NB_OP_DESTROY:
+		/*
+		 * Let's first check if the config item being requested
+		 * to delete has been recently added to the scratch
+		 * buffer or not. If so we need to remove from the
+		 * scratch buffer first.
+		 */
+		root = yang_dnode_get(candidate->dnode, xpath);
+		zlog_debug("%s: Dnode: %p, XPath: %s, Oper: DESTROY",
+			   __func__, root, xpath);
+		if (root)
+			chg = nb_config_find_change(cfg_chgs, root);
+		if (chg) {
+			zlog_debug("Delete dnode %p, xpath: %s from Scratch Buffer!",
+				   root, xpath);
+			RB_REMOVE(nb_config_cbs, cfg_chgs, &chg->cb);
+			XFREE(MTYPE_TMP, chg);
+		}
+
+		/*
+		 * Next check if the config item being requested
+		 * to delete has been previously committed to the
+		 * running datastore or not. If so we need to add
+		 * a delete request in the scratch buffer.
+		 */
 		root = yang_dnode_get(running_config->dnode, xpath);
+		delete = true;
 		/* code */
 		break;
 	case NB_OP_MOVE:
@@ -790,24 +850,44 @@ static void nb_update_candidate_changes(struct nb_config *candidate,
 		return;
 
 	LYD_TREE_DFS_BEGIN (root, dnode) {
+		lyd_path(dnode, LYD_PATH_STD, dn_xpath,
+			 sizeof(dn_xpath)-1);
 		op = nb_lyd_diff_get_op(dnode);
 		switch (op) {
 		case 'c': /* create */
-			nb_config_diff_created(dnode, seq, cfg_chgs);
 			LYD_TREE_DFS_continue = 1;
 			break;
 		case 'd': /* delete */
-			nb_config_diff_deleted(dnode, seq, cfg_chgs);
 			LYD_TREE_DFS_continue = 1;
 			break;
 		case 'r': /* replace */
-			nb_config_diff_add_change(cfg_chgs, NB_OP_MODIFY, seq,
-						  dnode);
 			break;
 		case 'n': /* none */
+			/*
+			 * There are no operational metadata associated. Just
+			 * follow the original operation.
+			 */
+			LYD_TREE_DFS_continue = 1;
 		default:
 			break;
 		}
+
+		if (delete) {
+			zlog_debug("%s: Add dnode %p, xpath: %s to Scratch Buffer for deletion",
+					__func__, dnode, dn_xpath);
+			nb_config_diff_deleted(dnode, seq, cfg_chgs);
+		}
+		else if (new) {
+			zlog_debug("%s: Add dnode %p, xpath: %s to Scratch Buffer for creation",
+					__func__, dnode, dn_xpath);
+			nb_config_diff_created(dnode, seq, cfg_chgs);
+		} else {
+			zlog_debug("%s: Add dnode %p, xpath: %s to Scratch Buffer for modification",
+					__func__, dnode, dn_xpath);
+			nb_config_diff_add_change(cfg_chgs,
+				NB_OP_MODIFY, seq, dnode);
+		}
+
 		LYD_TREE_DFS_END(root, dnode);
 	}
 }
@@ -827,7 +907,8 @@ static bool nb_is_operation_allowed(struct nb_node *nb_node,
 void nb_candidate_edit_config_changes(
 	struct nb_config *candidate_config, struct nb_cfg_change cfg_changes[],
 	size_t num_cfg_changes, const char *xpath_base, const char *curr_xpath,
-	int xpath_index, char *err_buf, int err_bufsize, bool *error)
+	int xpath_index, bool update_scratchbuf, char *err_buf,
+	int err_bufsize, bool *error)
 {
 	uint32_t seq = 0;
 
@@ -884,6 +965,28 @@ void nb_candidate_edit_config_changes(
 		data = yang_data_new(xpath, change->value);
 
 		/*
+		 * NOTE:
+		 * It is time to update the change in Candidate datastore. But
+		 * we also need to consider adding the change to the scratch
+		 * buffer associated with the Candidate datastore. Adding to
+		 * scratch buffer helps in scenarios where we have few config
+		 * changes and a big running and candidate tree already. In
+		 * such cases a regular diff between candidate and running
+		 * tree takes unusually very long.
+		 */
+
+		/*
+		 * If this is a delete operation we need to remove it from
+		 * the scratch buffer before updating the candidate node
+		 * (if it has been added previously as part of the same
+		 * commit).
+		 */
+		if (update_scratchbuf && change->operation == NB_OP_DESTROY)
+			nb_update_candidate_changes(candidate_config, change,
+						    &seq);
+
+		/*
+		 * And then add the changes to the actual candidate data tree.
 		 * Ignore "not found" errors when editing the candidate
 		 * configuration.
 		 */
@@ -900,7 +1003,14 @@ void nb_candidate_edit_config_changes(
 				*error = true;
 			continue;
 		}
-		nb_update_candidate_changes(candidate_config, change, &seq);
+
+		/*
+		 * And finally add all create/modify requests to the scratch
+		 * buffer associated with the candidate data tree.
+		 */
+		if (update_scratchbuf && change->operation != NB_OP_DESTROY)
+			nb_update_candidate_changes(candidate_config, change,
+						    &seq);
 	}
 
 	if (error && *error) {
diff --git a/lib/northbound.h b/lib/northbound.h
index 1723a87e4e75..5218453ad2dd 100644
--- a/lib/northbound.h
+++ b/lib/northbound.h
@@ -923,6 +923,10 @@ extern bool nb_candidate_needs_update(const struct nb_config *candidate);
  * xpath_index
  *    Index of xpath being processed.
  *
+ * update_scratchbuf
+ *    Update the scratch buffer associated with candidate data tree
+ *    as well.
+ *
  * err_buf
  *    Buffer to store human-readable error message in case of error.
  *
@@ -935,7 +939,8 @@ extern bool nb_candidate_needs_update(const struct nb_config *candidate);
 extern void nb_candidate_edit_config_changes(
 	struct nb_config *candidate_config, struct nb_cfg_change cfg_changes[],
 	size_t num_cfg_changes, const char *xpath_base, const char *curr_xpath,
-	int xpath_index, char *err_buf, int err_bufsize, bool *error);
+	int xpath_index, bool update_scratchbuf, char *err_buf,
+	int err_bufsize, bool *error);
 
 /*
  * Delete candidate configuration changes.
diff --git a/lib/northbound_cli.c b/lib/northbound_cli.c
index 8003679ed57b..96df96829970 100644
--- a/lib/northbound_cli.c
+++ b/lib/northbound_cli.c
@@ -147,8 +147,8 @@ static int nb_cli_apply_changes_internal(struct vty *vty,
 
 	nb_candidate_edit_config_changes(
 		vty->candidate_config, vty->cfg_changes, vty->num_cfg_changes,
-		xpath_base, VTY_CURR_XPATH, vty->xpath_index, buf, sizeof(buf),
-		&error);
+		xpath_base, VTY_CURR_XPATH, vty->xpath_index, false, buf,
+		sizeof(buf), &error);
 	if (error) {
 		/*
 		 * Failure to edit the candidate configuration should never
diff --git a/mgmtd/mgmt_ds.c b/mgmtd/mgmt_ds.c
index a0e610c7c745..701a9c75065d 100644
--- a/mgmtd/mgmt_ds.c
+++ b/mgmtd/mgmt_ds.c
@@ -101,6 +101,14 @@ static int mgmt_ds_replace_dst_with_src_ds(struct mgmt_ds_ctx *src,
 		nb_config_diff_del_changes(&src->root.cfg_root->cfg_chgs);
 	}
 
+	if (dst->ds_id == MGMTD_DS_CANDIDATE) {
+		/*
+		 * Drop the changes in scratch-buffer.
+		 */
+		MGMTD_DS_DBG("Emptying Candidate Scratch buffer!");
+		nb_config_diff_del_changes(&dst->root.cfg_root->cfg_chgs);
+	}
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -134,6 +142,14 @@ static int mgmt_ds_merge_src_with_dst_ds(struct mgmt_ds_ctx *src,
 		nb_config_diff_del_changes(&src->root.cfg_root->cfg_chgs);
 	}
 
+	if (dst->ds_id == MGMTD_DS_CANDIDATE) {
+		/*
+		 * Drop the changes in scratch-buffer.
+		 */
+		MGMTD_DS_DBG("Emptying Candidate Scratch buffer!");
+		nb_config_diff_del_changes(&dst->root.cfg_root->cfg_chgs);
+	}
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/mgmtd/mgmt_txn.c b/mgmtd/mgmt_txn.c
index 53b9b7df46c2..dabbbbe80e38 100644
--- a/mgmtd/mgmt_txn.c
+++ b/mgmtd/mgmt_txn.c
@@ -666,7 +666,7 @@ static void mgmt_txn_process_set_cfg(struct event *thread)
 						 txn_req->req.set_cfg->cfg_changes,
 						 (size_t)txn_req->req.set_cfg
 							 ->num_cfg_changes,
-						 NULL, NULL, 0, err_buf,
+						 NULL, NULL, 0, true, err_buf,
 						 sizeof(err_buf), &error);
 		if (error) {
 			mgmt_fe_send_set_cfg_reply(txn->session_id, txn->txn_id,
@@ -1199,6 +1199,7 @@ static int mgmt_txn_prepare_config(struct mgmt_txn_ctx *txn)
 	 */
 	cfg_chgs = &nb_config->cfg_chgs;
 	if (RB_EMPTY(nb_config_cbs, cfg_chgs)) {
+		MGMTD_TXN_DBG("Candidate Scratch buffer Empty! Computing FULL Diff!");
 		/*
 		 * This could be the case when the config is directly
 		 * loaded onto the candidate DS from a file. Get the
@@ -1211,6 +1212,8 @@ static int mgmt_txn_prepare_config(struct mgmt_txn_ctx *txn)
 			       nb_config, &changes);
 		cfg_chgs = &changes;
 		del_cfg_chgs = true;
+	} else {
+		MGMTD_TXN_DBG("Found changes in Candidate Scratch buffer!");
 	}
 
 	if (RB_EMPTY(nb_config_cbs, cfg_chgs)) {
@@ -2228,12 +2231,16 @@ int mgmt_txn_send_set_config_req(uint64_t txn_id, uint64_t req_id,
 		else
 			continue;
 
-		MGMTD_TXN_DBG("XPath: '%s', Value: '%s'",
+		MGMTD_TXN_DBG("XPath: '%s', Value: '%s', OPER: %s",
 			      cfg_req[indx]->data->xpath,
 			      (cfg_req[indx]->data->value &&
 					       cfg_req[indx]->data->value->encoded_str_val
 				       ? cfg_req[indx]->data->value->encoded_str_val
-				       : "NULL"));
+				       : "NULL"),
+			      (cfg_chg->operation == NB_OP_CREATE ? "Create"
+			       : cfg_chg->operation == NB_OP_MODIFY ? "Modify"
+			       : cfg_chg->operation == NB_OP_DESTROY
+			       ? "Destroy" : "Other"));
 		strlcpy(cfg_chg->xpath, cfg_req[indx]->data->xpath,
 			sizeof(cfg_chg->xpath));
 		cfg_chg->value =