In a bid to provide financial assistance to the nation’s farmers, the Government of India launched PM Kisan Yojana, formally known as PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKSN) Scheme. This initiative plays a crucial role in alleviating the financial burden of smallholder farmers, empowering them to enhance productivity, and improving their quality of life. Launched in December 2018, this scheme aims to ensure that every farmer family with land ownership receives income support to meet their agricultural and daily needs.

What is PM Kisan Yojana?

PM Kisan Yojana is a central sector initiative that provides ₹6,000 annually to eligible farmer families. This sum is distributed in three equal installments of ₹2,000 every four months, directly into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism. By eliminating intermediaries and ensuring timely and transparent delivery, PM Kisan has become one of the largest and most efficient cash transfer schemes globally, benefiting millions of farmers across India.

PM Kisan Yojana Key Features and Benefits

Here’s a breakdown of the key features and benefits of the PM Kisan Yojana:

PM Kisan Yojana Key Features:

• Annual Financial Assistance: Farmers receive ₹6,000 per year under the scheme.

• Installment-Based Structure: The ₹6,000 is provided in three installments of ₹2,000 each, distributed every four months.

• Direct Fund Transfer: Funds are directly transferred to farmers’ bank accounts to ensure transparency and reduce corruption.

• Targeting Small and Marginal Farmers: More than 85% of the beneficiaries are small and marginal farmers, with a special focus on inclusivity.

• Gender Inclusivity: At least one in four beneficiaries is a woman farmer, promoting gender equality in the farming community.

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PM Kisan Yojana Benefits:

• Timely Financial Support: The scheme provides crucial financial aid during key agricultural phases, helping farmers meet immediate needs such as purchasing seeds, fertilizers, etc.

• Improved Livelihoods: The financial support enables farmers to improve their quality of life, ensuring better health, education, and overall well-being for themselves and their families.

• Reduced Dependence on Moneylenders: The financial assistance reduces farmers’ reliance on money lenders who charge high interest rates, preventing debt traps.

• Enhanced Agricultural Productivity: With more resources, farmers can invest in modern agricultural practices, improving yields and productivity.

• Rural Economic Growth: By supporting farmers, the scheme strengthens rural economies, contributing to overall rural development and stability.

• Financial Security for Rural Families: The scheme provides a stable income source, reducing the financial stress on farmers, particularly during times of crop failure or other unforeseen challenges.

These key features and benefits work together to improve the financial stability and productivity of farmers, making it easier for them to meet their needs and contribute to the overall agricultural sector’s growth.

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How to Apply for PM Kisan Yojana

To avail of the benefits under the PM Kisan Yojana, farmers must register through the official portal. Registration can be done by visiting the PM Kisan Yojana website or through Common Service Centers (CSCs) across India and State Government portals. The process requires farmers to provide basic details such as their:

• Landholding
• Aadhaar number
• Bank account information.

Once registered, the data is verified, and eligible farmers are added to the database. Farmers who have been successfully registered are then eligible to receive the installments of ₹2,000 three times a year. States and Union Territories (UTs) play a crucial role in identifying eligible farmers and validating their claims under the scheme.

PM Kisan Yojana Achievements and Milestones

Since its launch, PM Kisan Yojana has made significant progress. As of October 5, 2024, the Government of India released the 18th installment of the scheme, benefiting over 9.4 crore farmers across the country. The total disbursement under the scheme has now surpassed ₹3.46 lakh crore, with more than 9.4 crore farmers receiving direct financial support.

A significant portion of this disbursement occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, where farmers faced tremendous challenges. Over ₹1.75 lakh crore was transferred to farmers during this critical period, providing immediate relief to those affected by the global crisis.

PM Kisan Yojana has been expanded through efforts like the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, which sought to ensure that welfare schemes like PM Kisan reach the remotest corners of India. As part of this initiative, over 1 crore farmers, including 6 lakh Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) farmers, were added to the scheme.

PM Kisan Yojana: 19th Installment

On 24th February 2025, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the 19th installment of the PM-KISAN scheme in Bhagalpur, Bihar. This release will benefit over 9.8 crore farmers nationwide, including 2.41 crore female farmers, with direct financial assistance exceeding ₹22,000 crore. To ensure transparency and eliminate middlemen, the funds will be transferred directly to the farmers’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer system.

PM Kisan Yojana Exclusion Criteria

While the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme aims to benefit millions of farmers, certain categories of individuals are excluded to ensure that only the most vulnerable farmers benefit. The following categories are not eligible for support under the scheme:

• Institutional Landholders.

• Former and Present Holders of Constitutional Posts, such as Presidents, Vice-President, Governors, etc., are excluded.

• Elected Representatives, including MPs and MLAs and other political officeholders are not eligible.

• Government Employees and Pensioners with a pension above ₹10,000.

• Income Tax Payers from the previous year.

• Professionals, such as doctors, engineers, and lawyers.

These exclusions ensure that the benefits reach farmers who genuinely need assistance and are not diverted to individuals in higher economic brackets.

PM Kisan Yojana FAQs