PM-KISAN Yojana
PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) is a government scheme that provides direct income support of Rs 6,000 per year to eligible farmer families. The amount is paid in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each directly into farmers’ bank accounts. The scheme was launched in February 2019 to supplement farmers’ income and reduce their dependence on moneylenders.
What Is PM-KISAN?
PM-KISAN is a centrally sponsored scheme under which the central government transfers Rs 6,000 per year directly to the bank accounts of small and marginal farmers. The goal is to help farmers meet farming-related and household expenses.
The scheme covers all farmer families with cultivable land, subject to exclusion criteria. The money is transferred through direct benefit transfer (DBT) in three instalments of Rs 2,000 every four months.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible beneficiaries are farmer families owning cultivable land. However, certain categories are excluded:
– Former or current holders of constitutional posts
– Former or serving government employees (state and central)
– Retired pensioners with monthly pension of Rs 10,000 or more
– Income taxpayers
– Professionals (doctors, engineers, lawyers, CAs)
– Registered farmers who have availed formal institutional credit above a certain limit in certain states
Tenant farmers and sharecroppers are generally not eligible since they do not own land.
How to Apply
– Eligible farmers must register at the PM-KISAN portal (pmkisan.gov.in) with Aadhaar, land records, and bank account details
– Common Service Centres (CSCs) assist in registration
– Beneficiary status and payment details can be checked online
eKYC Requirement
From 2022, all PM-KISAN beneficiaries must complete eKYC (Aadhaar-based OTP or biometric verification). Failure to complete eKYC results in suspension of instalments.
Impact of the Scheme
Since its launch, PM-KISAN has transferred over Rs 2.6 lakh crore to more than 11 crore farmer families. It helps farmers manage the period between planting and harvest when expenses are high and income is low.
Practical Example
Ramu, a small farmer in Uttar Pradesh with 2 acres of agricultural land, is registered under PM-KISAN. He receives Rs 2,000 in April, Rs 2,000 in August, and Rs 2,000 in December every year. The April instalment helps him buy seeds for the kharif season, and the December instalment helps him manage post-harvest household expenses.
Key Takeaways
– PM-KISAN provides Rs 6,000 per year to eligible farmer families in three instalments of Rs 2,000
– Available to farmers with cultivable land; income taxpayers and government employees are excluded
– Direct benefit transfer ensures money reaches farmers without intermediaries
– eKYC is mandatory for continuing to receive PM-KISAN instalments
– Over 11 crore farmers have benefited from the scheme since its 2019 launch
