The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojana continues to be a vital support for numerous small and marginal farmers across India. With the 21st installment on the horizon, here's a comprehensive overview of what farmers need to know.

Expected Release Date

The 21st installment of ₹2,000 is officially confirmed to be released in November 2025. While earlier reports speculated a release before Diwali, the government is expected to disburse the funds in the first or second week of November. Some states have already received the installment, with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan releasing it for farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh on September 26, 2025, and for Jammu and Kashmir on October 7, 2025. This advance relief was provided in light of recent floods and landslides in these states.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the PM-KISAN scheme, farmers must meet certain requirements:

• Be a landholding farmer family, defined as a husband, wife, and minor children.
• Own cultivable land.
• Be identified by the State and UT administrations.

However, certain farmers are ineligible for the scheme:

• Farmers who bought or got new farmland after February 1, 2019, are not eligible for the next five years, unless the land was received through inheritance.
• Farmers whose e-KYC is not completed or whose bank accounts are not linked to Aadhaar will not receive the installment.

e-KYC: A Mandatory Step

The government has made e-KYC mandatory for all farmers registered under the PM-KISAN scheme. Farmers who fail to complete their e-KYC will not receive the installment. There are several ways to complete e-KYC:

1. OTP-based e-KYC: Visit the official PM-Kisan website (pmkisan.gov.in), click on 'e-KYC', enter your Aadhaar number, and submit the OTP received on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
2. Biometric e-KYC: Visit the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) or State Seva Kendra (SSK), provide your Aadhaar number, and complete e-KYC using a fingerprint or iris scan.
3. Face Authentication: Download the PM-Kisan Mobile App and Aadhaar Face RD app from the Play Store, log in using your registered mobile number, go to the e-KYC section, enter your Aadhaar number, and scan your face using the camera.

Checking Beneficiary Status

Farmers can check their beneficiary status on the PM-Kisan portal:

1. Visit the official PM-Kisan website (pmkisan.gov.in).
2. Click on "Beneficiary Status" under the "Farmers Corner".
3. Enter your Aadhaar number, account number, or mobile number.
4. Click on "Get Data".
5. Your payment status and other details will be displayed on the screen.

Linking Mobile Number

Farmers can also update their mobile number on the PM-Kisan portal:

1. Visit the official PM-Kisan website (pmkisan.gov.in).
2. Go to "Farmers Corner".
3. Select "Update Mobile Number".
4. Enter Aadhaar details and verify with OTP.

About the PM-KISAN Scheme

The PM-KISAN scheme was launched in February 2019 to provide financial assistance to small and marginal farmers. Under the scheme, eligible farmers receive ₹6,000 per year, disbursed in three equal installments of ₹2,000 directly into their bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The scheme aims to help farmers manage their daily expenses and purchase farming essentials.