The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojana, launched in February 2019, stands as a significant initiative by the Indian government to provide income support to small and marginal farmers across the country. This central sector scheme aims to supplement the financial needs of farmers in procuring various inputs related to agriculture and allied activities, as well as to support their domestic needs.

How It Works

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, eligible farmer families receive ₹6,000 per year, disbursed in three equal installments of ₹2,000 every four months. This amount is directly credited to the beneficiaries' bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, ensuring transparency and efficiency. The scheme is entirely funded by the central government. The 20th installment is expected to be released around late July or early August 2025.

Benefits

• Financial Support: The scheme provides direct income support to small and marginal farmer families, addressing their immediate financial needs. The financial assistance helps farmers manage agricultural costs and support their household income.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): PM-KISAN leverages DBT to directly transfer funds to farmers' bank accounts, eliminating intermediaries and ensuring transparency.
• Wide Coverage: The program ensures comprehensive coverage, reaching every eligible farmer family across the nation, irrespective of the size of their land holdings.
• Digital Transformation: All farmer-related records are systematically maintained on an official digital platform, simplifying the registration process and facilitating seamless fund transfers.
• Empowerment: Beneficiaries have the autonomy to utilize the funds as per their requirements, providing them with financial flexibility.

Eligibility Criteria

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

• Land Ownership: The farmer must own cultivable land.
• Family Definition: A farmer's family is defined as comprising a husband, wife, and minor children.
• Citizenship: The beneficiary must be an Indian citizen.

However, certain categories of individuals are excluded from the scheme:

• Institutional Landholders: Land owned by institutions is not eligible.
• High-Income Individuals: Those who have paid income tax in the previous assessment year are excluded.
• Pensioners: Individuals receiving a monthly pension of ₹10,000 or more are ineligible, with exceptions for multi-tasking staff, Class IV, or Group D employees.
• Professionals: Families with members who are registered and practicing professionals such as doctors, engineers, chartered accountants, lawyers, or architects are not eligible.
• Government Employees: Serving or retired government employees are ineligible.
• Constitutional Post Holders: Former and present holders of constitutional posts, ministers, members of parliament, mayors, and chairpersons of district panchayats are excluded.

Registration Process

Eligible farmers can register for the PM-KISAN scheme through various channels:

• Nodal Officers: Each State government nominates PM-KISAN nodal officers who can assist with registration.
• Local Revenue Officials: Farmers can approach local patwaris or revenue officers for registration.
• Common Service Centres (CSCs): Enrollment can be done via CSCs for a fee.
• PM-KISAN Portal: Farmers can register themselves through the official PM-KISAN portal or mobile app.

Documents Required

When applying for the scheme, individuals need to submit the following documents:

• Aadhaar card.
• Proof of citizenship.
• Land ownership documents.
• Bank account details.

The PM-KISAN scheme has had a wide-reaching impact, with the 19th installment in February 2025 benefiting over 9.8 crore farmers. The scheme not only enhances the financial condition of farmers but also supports the growth of agriculture and the well-being of rural communities. To ensure continued benefits, farmers are advised to complete their e-KYC and verify their beneficiary status regularly.