A Transformative Initiative for India’s Annadatas
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme represents one of India’s most ambitious and far-reaching social welfare initiatives, directly addressing the financial needs of the nation’s farming community. Launched on February 24, 2019, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this central sector scheme has fundamentally transformed how the government supports its agricultural backbone . The PM-KISAN scheme provides a financial benefit of ₹6,000 per year to eligible farmer families, disbursed in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 each directly into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode .
The scheme’s impact has been monumental. Since its inception, the Government of India has disbursed over ₹4.09 lakh crore through 21 instalments to more than 11 crore farmer families across the country . This makes PM-KISAN one of the largest Direct Benefit Transfer initiatives globally, underscoring its monumental impact on facilitating financial support directly to beneficiaries without any intermediaries . With a commitment to inclusivity, the scheme dedicates over 25% of its benefits to women beneficiaries, empowering female farmers across India .
Understanding PM-KISAN: Scheme Overview
What is PM-KISAN?
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a central sector scheme designed to supplement the financial needs of landholding farmers . The scheme provides income support to small and marginal farmers (SMFs) to help them procure various agricultural inputs, ensuring proper crop health and appropriate yields commensurate with anticipated farm income at the end of each crop cycle . This financial assistance also protects farmers from falling into the clutches of moneylenders for meeting such expenses and ensures their continuance in farming activities .
Key Features of PM-KISAN
- Annual Financial Assistance of ₹6,000: Each eligible farmer family receives ₹6,000 per year in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 each .
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Payments are made directly into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts, eliminating intermediaries and ensuring transparency .
- Wide Coverage: Over 11 crore farmer families have benefited from the scheme across all States and Union Territories .
- Aadhaar-Based Payment: Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts are mandatory for receiving benefits, with a transaction success rate of 99.92% in the 19th instalment .
- Digital Infrastructure: The scheme leverages India’s robust digital infrastructure, integrating Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar, and mobile phones for seamless operation .
- Kisan-eMitra AI Chatbot: An AI-powered chatbot provides farmers with prompt, clear, and accurate responses to their queries in 11 regional languages .
- PM-KISAN Mobile App: The mobile app offers self-registration, benefit status tracking, and facial authentication-based e-KYC .
Financial Disbursement Progress
Eligibility Criteria for PM-KISAN
Primary Eligibility
All landholding farmers’ families who have cultivable land holdings in their names are eligible to receive benefits under the scheme . A landholder farmer’s family comprises husband, wife, and minor children who own cultivable land as per land records of the concerned state and UT .
Mandatory Requirements for Enrollment
- Farmer’s/Spouse’s name
- Farmer’s/Spouse’s date of birth
- Bank account number
- IFSC/MICR Code
- Mobile (contact) Number
- Aadhaar Number
- Other customer information available in the passbook
Exclusions and Ineligibility
The following categories are not eligible for PM-KISAN benefits :
- Higher Income Groups: Individuals who have paid income tax in the last assessment year.
- Government Employees: Serving or retired government employees, including those of PSUs, State/Central Government, and Constitutional post holders.
- Professionals: Chartered accountants, doctors, lawyers, and other professionals in private institutions who have paid income tax.
- Constitutional Post Holders: Individuals holding constitutional posts.
- Late Land Acquisition: Farmers who acquired land ownership after February 1, 2019 .
- Duplicate Beneficiaries: Cases where more than one family member is receiving benefits (e.g., both husband and wife, adult member and minor, etc.) .
The government has mandated recovery of funds disbursed to ineligible farmers. As of August 2025, a total of ₹416 crore has been recovered from ineligible recipients across the country .
Registration and Application Process
Online Registration
Farmers can register themselves through the PM-KISAN portal or mobile app . The registration process is ongoing and is open to farmers of all States and Union Territories . All applications are approved by the concerned States/UTs after due verification .
Offline Registration Options
Farmers can also register through:
How to Check Beneficiary Status
To check if your name is included in the official PM-KISAN beneficiary list :
Step 1: Visit the official PM-KISAN portal: https://pmkisan.gov.in/
Step 2: Access ‘Farmers Corner’ section on the homepage
Step 3: Select ‘Beneficiary List’ option within the menu
Step 4: Select State, District, Block, and Village
Step 5: Click on ‘Get Report’ to display all names of PM-KISAN scheme beneficiaries
Alternatively, farmers can use the ‘Know Your Status’ feature by entering their Aadhaar number or registered mobile number and completing OTP verification .
Aadhaar e-KYC: A Critical Requirement
Importance of e-KYC
Aadhaar-based payment has been made mandatory for release of benefits under PM-KISAN from the 13th instalment (December 2022 – March 2023) . This eliminates problems of account-based payment, which were prone to data entry errors and changes in account details due to bank mergers . Aadhaar is a crucial pillar in PM-KISAN, enabling the establishment of beneficiary identity through e-KYC completion .
e-KYC Completion Methods
Farmers can complete e-KYC through :
- OTP Authentication: One-time password received on registered mobile number
- Biometric Authentication: Using fingerprint at Common Service Centers
- Face Authentication: Through the PM-KISAN mobile app, enabling remote farmers to complete e-KYC by scanning their face without OTP or fingerprint
Why Aadhaar Seeding is Essential
All payments under PM-KISAN are made through the DBT mechanism into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts . If a farmer’s bank account is not seeded with Aadhaar, payments cannot be processed . The government regularly takes focused saturation drives in coordination with States/UTs, CSCs, and IPPB to facilitate Aadhaar seeding of bank accounts . Farmers are also intimated through SMS to ensure Aadhaar seeding of their bank accounts to ensure uninterrupted disbursement of benefits .
Implementation and Monitoring Framework
Implementation Strategy
State governments are responsible for creating a comprehensive database of eligible farmer families, including details such as name, age, category, Aadhaar number, bank account details, and mobile number . They must also prevent duplication of payments and promptly resolve any issues related to bank details .
Beneficiary Verification Process
- Self-Declaration: Beneficiaries are required to submit a self-declaration confirming they are not excluded under the scheme’s eligibility criteria .
- Land Record Verification: Identification of beneficiaries is based on existing land-ownership records .
- Village-Level Display: Lists of eligible beneficiaries are displayed at the village level, allowing farmers who qualify but have been left out to appeal .
Monitoring and Grievance Redressal
Monitoring is done at the National, State, and District levels . The Cabinet Secretary heads the national-level review, while states are required to set up State and District Monitoring Committees . A Central Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) has been created under the ministry as a registered society .
Grievance Redressal Mechanisms
Farmers can raise concerns through multiple channels :
- CPGRAMS Portal: Centralized Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System
- PM-KISAN Portal: Dedicated grievance redressal system on the official portal
- Kisan-eMitra AI Chatbot: Provides quick, accurate, and clear responses to farmers’ queries round the clock in their native languages
- Physical Receipts and Emails: Traditional channels for lodging complaints
The Kisan-eMitra chatbot currently operates in 11 languages—English, Hindi, Odia, Tamil, Bengali, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, Kannada, Telugu, and Marathi—and has successfully resolved over 95 lakh queries from 53 lakh farmers as of July 2025 .
State-Wise Implementation and Saturation Drives
Nationwide Saturation Drives
The government has undertaken several saturation drives to ensure no eligible farmer is left out :
- Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra (VBSY): A major nationwide saturation drive from November 2023 added over 1 crore farmers to the scheme .
- 100 Days Initiative: Under the new government’s 100 days initiative, around 25 lakh more eligible farmers were added .
- Self-Registration Clearance Drive: A special drive from September 2024 cleared over 30 lakh pending self-registration cases approved by States/UTs .
State-Wise Beneficiary Distribution
During the 20th instalment (April 2025 – July 2025), Uttar Pradesh had the highest number of beneficiaries at 2.34 crore, followed by Maharashtra with 92.89 lakh beneficiaries .
Impact on Farmers’ Lives
Financial Support for Small and Marginal Farmers
For over 85% of Indian farmers who own less than two hectares of land, PM-KISAN has served as an essential support system . The financial assistance helps them manage critical periods such as sowing and harvesting when cash flow is often limited . It reduces financial stress, lowers dependence on informal credit, and provides a safety cushion during difficult times .
Modernizing Indian Agriculture
The scheme has also inspired digital innovations such as Kisan-eMitra, a voice-based chatbot, and AgriStack, which aims to provide farmers with personalized and timely advisory services . Together, these advancements are helping to modernize Indian agriculture and prepare it for the future .
Empowering Women Farmers
With over 25% of benefits dedicated to women beneficiaries, PM-KISAN has played a significant role in empowering female farmers across India . In the 23rd instalment, over 2.18 crore women farmers were among the beneficiaries .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is PM-KISAN?
PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) is a central sector scheme launched in February 2019 to supplement the financial needs of landholding farmers .
2. How much financial assistance is provided under PM-KISAN?
Eligible farmer families receive ₹6,000 per year in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 each .
3. Who is eligible for PM-KISAN?
All landholding farmers’ families who have cultivable land holdings in their names are eligible, subject to certain exclusions relating to higher income status .
4. How can I register for PM-KISAN?
Farmers can register through the PM-KISAN portal (pmkisan.gov.in), PM-KISAN mobile app, Common Service Centers (CSCs), or India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) .
5. Is Aadhaar mandatory for PM-KISAN?
Yes, Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts are mandatory for receiving benefits under PM-KISAN .
6. How can I check my PM-KISAN beneficiary status?
Visit pmkisan.gov.in, access ‘Farmers Corner’, select ‘Beneficiary List’, choose your State, District, Block, and Village, and click ‘Get Report’ .
7. Who is NOT eligible for PM-KISAN?
Income tax payees, government employees, constitutional post holders, and professionals who have paid income tax are not eligible .
8. What is the 23rd instalment date?
The 23rd instalment was released on June 20, 2026, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Tarakeswar, West Bengal .
9. What is Kisan-eMitra?
Kisan-eMitra is an AI-powered chatbot that provides farmers with quick, accurate responses to their queries in 11 regional languages .
10. How can I complete my e-KYC for PM-KISAN?
Farmers can complete e-KYC through OTP authentication, biometric authentication at CSCs, or face authentication through the PM-KISAN mobile app .
11. Why haven’t I received my PM-KISAN instalment?
Common reasons include non-seeding of Aadhaar with bank account, incorrect land records, duplicate beneficiary cases, or acquisition of land after February 1, 2019 .
12. How many farmers have benefited from PM-KISAN?
Over 11 crore farmer families have benefited from the scheme since its inception .
Conclusion
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme stands as a testament to the Government of India’s commitment to supporting the nation’s farming community. As the world’s largest Direct Benefit Transfer initiative, the scheme has disbursed over ₹4.09 lakh crore through 21 instalments to more than 11 crore farmer families across the country . By providing direct income support of ₹6,000 annually, the scheme has helped small and marginal farmers meet their agricultural needs, reduce their dependence on moneylenders, and maintain their livelihood with dignity.
The scheme’s success is built on a robust digital infrastructure that ensures transparency, efficiency, and ease of access. The integration of Aadhaar, Jan Dhan accounts, and mobile technology has created a seamless, tamper-proof system that eliminates intermediaries and ensures benefits reach intended beneficiaries . The introduction of the Kisan-eMitra AI chatbot and the PM-KISAN mobile app has further enhanced accessibility, grievance redressal, and real-time information for farmers .
As PM-KISAN continues to evolve, with the 23rd instalment releasing ₹18,880 crore to over 9.44 crore farmers on June 20, 2026, the scheme remains a shining example of how targeted government interventions can address fundamental challenges and create lasting positive change in society . Beyond the monetary benefit, the scheme instills a sense of dignity and reinforces that farmers are respected and valued contributors to the nation’s development .
Official Links for PM-KISAN:
- PM-KISAN Official Portal: https://pmkisan.gov.in/
- PM-KISAN Mobile App: Available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store
- Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: https://agricoop.nic.in/
- PIB PM-KISAN Updates: https://www.pib.gov.in/
- Kisan-eMitra AI Chatbot: Available on PM-KISAN portal and mobile app
PM-KISAN is more than just a financial assistance scheme – it is a promise of security, dignity, and a better future for India’s farmers, who form the backbone of the nation’s economy. By ensuring that every eligible farmer receives timely income support, the government is helping build a stronger, more resilient agricultural sector and a more prosperous India.