Jul 19, 2025
20
mins read
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a flagship central sector scheme launched by the Government of India to provide direct income support to farmer families. Under this scheme, each eligible farming family receives ₹6,000 per year in three equal installments, transferred directly to their bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. The scheme aims to enhance farmers’ income, ensure basic financial stability for agricultural needs, and reduce dependence on informal loans. Launched in late 2018 and formally inaugurated on 24th February 2019, PM-KISAN has since become a cornerstone of India’s farmer welfare initiatives, benefiting over 11 crore farmers and disbursing more than ₹3.45 lakh crore by 2024.
This comprehensive overview covers the PM-KISAN’s eligibility, objectives, features, criteria, implementation mechanism, impact, challenges, and useful information for UPSC aspirants.
A farmer celebrating the benefits of PM-KISAN, a scheme providing direct cash support to millions of farming families across India.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Ministry & Launch Timeline
Scheme Administration
PM-Kisan Implementing Ministry
Led by: Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare
Funding: A Central Sector Scheme - 100 % financed by the Government of India
Administration: States and Union Territories (UTs) are responsible for identifying eligible beneficiaries based on central guidelines; DA&FW oversees central coordination.
Launch & Rollout Timeline
Date | Milestone |
1 Dec 2018 | Scheme made operational — first digital beneficiary records created |
24 Feb 2019 | Official launch; first ₹2,000 installment transferred to ~1 crore farmers in Gorakhpur, UP |
Jun 2019 | Eligibility expanded beyond small/marginal farmers to all landholding farmer families with exclusions for high-income and institutional holders |
5 Oct 2024 | Launched 18th installment; total disbursement crossed ₹3.45 lakh crore, benefitting ~11 crore farmers |
24 Feb 2025 | 19th installment disbursed to over 9.8 crore farmers (including ~2.41 crore women), totaling ₹22,000+ crore |
Jul 2025 | Rollout of PM-Kisan 20th installment begins (e.g., Prayagraj district covering ~6.32 lakh farmers) |
Scale & Reach
Beneficiaries: Expanded from ~1 crore in Feb 2019 to 9–11 crore+ by late 2024–early 2025
Disbursements: Over ₹3.45 lakh crore across 18 installments; ₹22,000 crore in single 19th installment; district-level coverage continues to deepen.
The core objective of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi is to provide direct income support to farmers and thereby supplement their financial needs for procuring agricultural inputs and sustaining their families. Key objectives of the scheme include:
Ensuring Crop Health and Yield:
By providing ₹6,000 annually, the scheme helps farmers purchase seeds, fertilizers, equipment, and other inputs to maintain proper crop health and yields commensurate with expected farm income.
This investment aims to improve agricultural productivity and food security in the long run.
Preventing Indebtedness:
The timely cash support is meant to protect farmers from falling into the clutches of moneylenders for meeting expenses.
With a modest but assured income, farmers can avoid high-interest loans for agriculture or household needs.
Supporting Basic Livelihood Needs:
The fund can be used for agricultural as well as household requirements, ensuring financial stability for farming families throughout the year.
This support is especially crucial during off-seasons or crop failures, acting as a safety net.
Promoting Rural Economic Development:
By boosting farmers’ purchasing power, PM-KISAN is intended to stimulate rural consumption and economic activity in villages.
It aligns with broader goals of rural development and poverty reduction.
Doubling Farmers’ Income:
PM-KISAN complements the government’s goal of doubling farmers’ incomes (as envisioned for 2022) by augmenting earnings and promoting investments in farm improvements.
It also encourages farmers to adopt modern practices, contributing to long-term sectoral growth.
Table of content
Initial Coverage:
At launch, PM-KISAN was meant for small and marginal farmers – defined as those owning up to 2 hectares of cultivable land.
This initial target group constituted the majority of vulnerable farmers who needed immediate support.
Expanded Coverage:
In June 2019, the P M Kisan scheme was expanded to all landholding farmer families in India, irrespective of land size.
This universality (with exceptions noted below) means that nearly every farming household owning agricultural land can benefit.
As a result, over 12 crore farmers across India are eligible under the broadened criteria.
Definition of “Farmer Family”:
For PM-KISAN, a “farmer family” is defined as a husband, wife, and minor children who collectively own cultivable land as per official land records.
The benefit of ₹6,000 per year is provided per family, not per individual or per plot.
Even if a family owns multiple parcels of land, it counts as one unit.
Conversely, if land is owned by, say, a father and adult son as separate households, each can be considered a separate eligible family if they meet other criteria.
Identification of Beneficiaries:
The responsibility of identifying eligible beneficiaries lies with the State/UT governments.
Local authorities verify land records and farmer family details to prepare lists of beneficiaries.
This decentralised identification helps utilize local land data, though it also makes scheme roll-out dependent on the accuracy of state land records and databases.
Note: Tenant farmers, share-croppers, and landless agricultural laborers do not directly benefit from PM-KISAN since the scheme’s eligibility is tied to land ownership. This has been a point of criticism, as many actual cultivators are landless or farm on leased land (addressed under Challenges below).
Income Support & Installment Schedule
Annual cash support: ₹6,000 per eligible farmer family, disbursed in three equal installments of ₹2,000.
Quarterly distribution: Timed approximately every four months to align with the key cropping seasons—rabi, kharif, and summer/lean period.
Mode of Payment – Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
Funds are transferred directly into Aadhaar card-linked bank accounts through the PM‑KISAN Portal → PFMS → NPCI → Bank pipeline.
This DBT flow bypasses intermediaries, ensuring speed, transparency, and significantly reduced leakage.
Sources highlight: DBT under JAM eliminated ~10 crore fake/duplicate beneficiaries, saving over ₹3.5 lakh crore
JAM Trinity: Jan Dhan, Aadhaar & Mobile (JAM)
Jan Dhan: Basic bank accounts for every household (54 crore+ accounts and 37 crore RuPay cards issued)
Aadhaar: Unique biometric ID ensures accurate targeting and limits fraud.
Mobile: OTP-based e-KYC and SMS alerts ensure authentication and real-time acknowledgement.
JAM underpins DBT effectiveness-enabling seamless, authenticated transfers
Refer to this blog on Digital India Initiative
Aadhaar Card Seeding & e‑KYC Requirements
Enrollment mandates Aadhaar number-bank linkages to prevent duplicate/false entries.
Face authentication e-KYC has been introduced to resolve name mismatches and enhance payment accuracy.
Name mismatches can block installment receipt unless corrected via mobile/web/app interface.
Usage Flexibility & Farmers’ Spending Patterns
No restrictions on fund usage—farmers decide how to allocate ₹6,000.
Empirical studies show:
~61.7 % of beneficiaries in Telangana used it for agricultural inputs; ~28.3 % split between agricultural and household expenses.
In Marathwada (2021–23), spending declined from 58 % (1st installment) to 15 % (3rd installment) for agriculture, with non-agri spending rising from 42 % to 78 %.
Southern states (TN, KA, AP, TS, KL) confirm similar behavior: peak agricultural spending early in the year, followed by household use .
Policy implication: Timing of installments influences usage; suggestions include restructuring disbursements (e.g., two larger installments) to match cropping needs.
While PM-KISAN’s coverage is expansive, the government has outlined specific exclusion criteria to omit certain categories of higher-income or institutional beneficiaries who are not eligible for the scheme. The following groups are NOT eligible to receive PM-KISAN benefits:
Excluded Category | Details |
Institutional Land Owners | Government or corporate entities that own farmland |
Constitutional Posts | President, Vice-President, Governors, etc. (current & former) |
Political Office Holders | MPs, MLAs, MLCs, Mayors, District Chairpersons (current & former) |
Government Employees | All except Group D/Class IV/MTS across Centre, State, PSU, Autonomous sectors |
Pensioners | Drawing ₹10,000+ per month (excluding Group D/Class IV/MTS retirees) |
Income Tax Payers | Anyone who filed I-T return in the last assessment year |
Practicing Professionals | Doctors, engineers, lawyers, CAs, architects registered with professional bodies |
NRIs (for new beneficiaries) | Covered under Income Tax Act provisions |
Digital Ecosystem Overview
1. PM‑KISAN Web Portal (pmkisan.gov.in)
Built by NIC: End-to-end IT backbone for the scheme—beneficiary data, payment processing (via PFMS/NPCI), and administrative dashboards.
Farmers’ Corner Features:
Self-registration and status tracking
e‑KYC (Aadhaar via OTP, biometric, and face scans)
Editing of details (name, bank account)
100 % Aadhaar seeding ensured
Grievance redressal interface and helpline.
2. PM‑KISAN Mobile App
Launched 24 Feb 2020 by NIC, MEITY & DAC&F.
Features mirror portal functions: registration, e‑KYC (OTP, biometric, face authentication introduced 2023), installment status, helpline access, and name correction.
AI Chatbot (Kisan‑eMitra) introduced Sept 2023, offers multilingual support via Bhashini for real-time Q&A.
3. Coverage & Outreach via CSCs
Over 500,000 Common Service Centres support farmer registration, e‑KYC, corrections, and app usage.
Field officials can perform e‑KYC for up to 500 farmers each via the app or CSCs.
1. Income & Financial Inclusion
Reliable liquidity: ₹6,000/year in three installments helps small/marginal farmers manage seed, fertiliser, irrigation, and household needs. Studies show timely DBT eases credit constraints.
Banking access: Mandatory Aadhaar-linked bank accounts brought millions into the formal financial system, enabling access to credit, insurance, and savings .
2. Poverty Vulnerability & Rural Stimulus
Safety net: Even modest cash support helps farmers cope with shocks like crop failure or input price hikes.
Boost to rural markets: Disbursals stimulate local demand—educational expenses, healthcare, seeds—creating ripple effects in rural economies.
3. Agricultural Productivity & Modernisation
KVK synergy: IFPRI–ICAR study (UP) found farmers connected to Krishi Vigyan Kendras invest more in modern inputs, with adoption rates ~36% higher than non‑KVK beneficiaries.
Spending patterns: Responses vary with timing—first installment (agricultural season) led to more agricultural investments, while off-season amounts were spent on consumption, education, or health.
4. Rural Economy & Reach
Mass disbursal: As of mid‑2024, over ₹3.02–3.24 lakh crore was released to more than 11 crore farmers across 16–17 installments.
Recent rollouts: By July 2025, the PM-Kisan 20th installment began distribution; Prayagraj district alone saw ₹2,151.6 crore disbursed to ~6.32 lakh farmers.
Coverage gaps: While scheme claims ~80% reach, only ~21% of cultivators in some regions reported receipt—highlighting exclusion issues
5. Women Empowerment & Welfare
Women beneficiaries: Over 2.4 crore women farmers are included, with direct income often invested in children’s education, nutrition, and household welfare—strengthening social impact.
6. Policy Alignment & Reformist Potential
Supports national goals: PM‑KISAN complements broader aims like Doubling Farmers’ Income and financial inclusion via the JAM/DBT architecture.
Multiplier effect: IFPRI argues that combining PM‑KISAN with advisory services and credit can create a pathway to break intergenerational poverty.
Direct Fund Transfers & Transparency
Under PM‑KISAN, ₹6,000 per year is transferred in three ₹2,000 installments directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, ensuring transparency and reducing leakage.Financial Inclusion & Credit Access
Registering farmers via bank accounts and PM-Kisan app /e‑KYC integrates them into formal banking, easing access to credit, insurance, and other agricultural services.Eases Liquidity Constraints
The scheme alleviates cash-flow challenges, particularly for purchasing seeds, fertilisers, and equipment—helping PM‑KISAN beneficiaries make productive investments.Boosts Agricultural Productivity
IFPRI studies note adoption of modern cultivars via Krishi Vigyan Kendras and increased crop yields due to the extra liquidity.Enhances Rural Economic Growth
Access to funds has spurred rural investment, income, risk-taking capacity, and broader economic activity.No Discrimination in Beneficiary Selection
Eligibility is clearly defined under PM‑KISAN eligibility, with open criteria ensuring fair access to small & marginal landholdersImproves Modernisation in Agriculture
Funds encourage adoption of sustainable and modern practices—boosting the government’s agenda to modernise farming through kisan samman nidhi yojana.Effective Outreach & 20th Installment Update
Over 9 crore farmers are covered, with the PM-Kisan 20th installment date is expected in late June–mid July 2025. Beneficiaries should check the PM‑KISAN beneficiary list and complete e‑KYC for funds to reach their accounts.
Exclusion & Inclusion Errors
PM-Kisan Beneficiary identification gaps
Outdated land records, name/Aadhaar mismatches, low awareness result in many deserving farmers missing out.
• Surveys show only ~21% of cultivators received benefits.Inclusion errors: Ineligible individuals (e.g., government employees, income-tax payees) have occasionally been enrolled.
Continuous cleaning of PM-Kisan beneficiary lists, data management, and periodic verification remain challenging.
Land Owner–Focused Design
Scheme covers only land-owning farmers
Tenant farmers, sharecroppers, landless labourers excluded.
Tribal / Northeastern farmers using communal or informal land tenure are ineligible despite actual cultivation.
Insufficient Support Amount
Total annual support is ₹6,000 (~₹500/month or ₹2,000 per installment).
Critics argue this is inadequate given rising input costs and inflation.
Real value is eroding—₹6,000 in 2019 equates to ₹4,800 in 2023.
Suggest indexing the amount to inflation, similar to DBT kerosene subsidy fixes.
DBT & Accessibility Hurdles
Banking access limitations
Assumes all farmers have bank accounts and easy access—often not true in remote areas.
Aadhaar linkage & e-KYC issues
Any mismatch in Aadhaar or bank details blocks payments until manually resolved
Connectivity & digital-literacy challenges
Mobile apps/portals may be unusable in areas with poor internet; farmers struggle to register or track.
Grievance Redressal & Awareness Gaps
Complaints about slow grievance mechanisms and unresponsive helplines.
Farmers report long travel distances and bureaucratic delays.
Initial low awareness of PM-Kisan eligibility and registration procedures, though improved over time through outreach.
Structural Issues Unaddressed
PM‑KISAN is income support only, and doesn’t address:
Low crop prices
Irrigation deficiencies
Land fragmentation
Post-harvest losses
Weak crop-insurance systems
Critics stress: cash support helps short-term, but structural reforms are essential for lasting impact.
State-Level Fiscal & Admin Load
States handle verification, land-record tasks, enrollment, and coordination—all resource-heavy.
Digital land data upgrades and administrative scale-up have strained capacity.
States incur costs (call/data centers, field teams), even though funding is central.
1. Include Tenant Farmers & Landless Laborers
Modify criteria to include tenant farmers, sharecroppers, and landless agricultural laborers through self-declaration, community verification, or Panchayat-led identification.
Studies show ~46% of beneficiaries believe tenants should be included.
2. Increase Assistance or Index to Inflation
Revise the ₹6,000 annual support upward (e.g., to ₹9,000/₹12,000) or index to regional inflation/farm input costs to maintain real value
Regional recommendations push for a ₹9,000 payout with inflation adjustments .
3. Strengthen Data & Monitoring
Digitize land records nationwide to reduce exclusion errors.
Use satellite imagery, regular data audits, and integration with SECC or other socioeconomic databases to validate cultivation and auto-identify eligible farmers.
4. Enhance Grievance Redressal
Establish local grievance centers at panchayat/block levels for real-time support.
Deploy mobile support vans, regional camps each installment cycle, and an expanded helpline system to expedite problem resolution and e‑KYC updates
5. Strengthen Linkages with Other Schemes
Automatically link PM‑KISAN beneficiaries to:
Kisan Credit Cards (KCC)
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (crop insurance)
Soil Health Card Scheme
Agricultural extension (e.g., through KVKs)
Experts stress that bundling income support with capacity-building enhances agricultural resilience.
6. Promote Financial Literacy
Expand training on:
Basic banking: ATM use, passbook maintenance
Digital services: mobile banking, grievance redress via digital portals
Conduct these sessions via CSCs, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, or Gram Panchayats to smoothen beneficiary participation and reduce digital exclusion.
Q. When was the PM-KISAN Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana) launched and why?
A. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) was formally launched on 24th February 2019. It was introduced to provide income support of ₹6,000/year to farming families and ensure financial stability.
Q. Who is eligible to receive benefits under PM-KISAN?
A. All landholding farmer families in India are eligible, regardless of land size. Initially it covered only small and marginal farmers (≤2 ha land) but later expanded universally, with some exclusions for higher-income groups.
Q. Which farmers are excluded from PM-KISAN’s benefits?
A. Certain categories are not eligible: institutional landowners, holders of constitutional posts, serving or retired government officers (except Class IV/MTS), income-tax payers, and professionals like doctors, engineers, etc., are excluded from the scheme.
Q. How do farmers receive the ₹6,000 support and what are the modes to register?
A. The ₹6,000 annual benefit is paid in three installments of ₹2,000 directly into the farmer’s bank account via DBT. Farmers can register and complete e-KYC either through the online PM-KISAN Portal (Farmers Corner) or using the PM-KISAN mobile app, and can track payment status on these platforms.
Q. Which ministry administers the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM‑KISAN) scheme?
A. The PM‑KISAN scheme is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, via its Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. This central-sector programme, fully funded by the Government of India.
Q. When is the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi 20th installment date expected?
A. PM-Kisan 20th installment date is expected in late June–mid July 2025.
PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a landmark initiative in India’s agricultural policy, one that has directly empowered farmers by putting cash in their hands. In its few years of operation, the scheme has provided timely financial support that helps farmers purchase inputs and sustain their livelihoods, thereby acknowledging the invaluable role of farmers in the economy. For UPSC aspirants, PM-KISAN is a crucial example of a welfare policy targeting the agriculture sector, illustrating both the potential of direct benefit schemes and the challenges of last-mile delivery in a vast country. By continuously refining the scheme – expanding its reach, increasing its efficiency, and addressing its shortcomings – PM-KISAN can significantly contribute to the vision of an inclusive and prosperous rural India. In essence, PM-KISAN not only offers immediate relief to millions of farm families, but also lays a foundation for long-term agricultural growth and farmer well-being, making it a cornerstone of India’s commitment to “Jai Kisan” (Hail the Farmer).
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