About PM-KISAN

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a Central Sector Scheme launched on 24 February 2019 to provide income support to eligible landholding farmer families.

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
• Funding: 100% centrally funded.
• Financial Assistance: ₹6,000 annually in three equal instalments through DBT.
• Beneficiaries: Eligible landholding farmer families, irrespective of landholding size.
• Family Definition: Husband, wife and minor children.
• Exclusions: Institutional landholders, income-tax payers, specified government employees, pensioners and professionals.
• Implementation: Aadhaar authentication, mandatory e-KYC and land-record verification.

Major Achievements

• Extensive Coverage: The 24th instalment, scheduled for 30 October 2026, is expected to benefit over 9.34 crore farmers, strengthening nationwide income support.
• Women Empowerment: Nearly 25% of beneficiaries are women, promoting financial inclusion and economic empowerment.
• Agricultural Investment: Over 92% of surveyed beneficiaries utilised assistance for agricultural activities and inputs, according to NITI Aayog’s evaluation.
• Improved Farm Income: Approximately 85% of surveyed beneficiaries reported increased agricultural income and reduced dependence on informal credit.
• Transparent Welfare Delivery: Aadhaar-enabled DBT and digital verification minimise intermediaries, improve transparency and reduce leakages.
• Financial Security During Crises: Over ₹1.71 lakh crore was disbursed during the COVID-19 period, supporting agricultural households.
• Rural Economic Development: An IFPRI evaluation found that income transfers eased credit constraints, encouraged agricultural investment and supported rural economic activity.
• Beneficiary Satisfaction: Over 92% of surveyed farmers expressed satisfaction with the scheme.

Recent Development (2026): The Union Cabinet approved continuation of PM-KISAN for 2026–27 to 2030–31, with an outlay of ₹3.15 lakh crore. Over ₹4.47 lakh crore had been disbursed through 23 instalments.

Challenges

• Exclusion of Cultivators: Tenant farmers and sharecroppers without land titles remain outside its coverage.
• Inadequate Assistance: Fixed ₹6,000 annual support has limited purchasing power amid rising agricultural input costs.
• Implementation Gaps: Outdated land records, Aadhaar mismatches and e-KYC issues can delay payments.
• Gender Disparities: Limited agricultural landownership among women restricts their eligibility.

Way Forward

• Inclusive Coverage: Develop mechanisms to include verified tenant farmers and sharecroppers.
• Inflation Adjustment: Periodically revise financial assistance based on agricultural input costs.
• Digital Land Reforms: Modernise land records and simplify beneficiary verification.
• Scheme Convergence: Strengthen integration with Kisan Credit Cards, PMFBY and agricultural extension services.

PM-KISAN has strengthened farmers’ income security, agricultural investment and financial inclusion through direct income transfers. Improving coverage, financial adequacy and implementation efficiency is essential for inclusive and sustainable agricultural development.