Overview
PM-KISAN is India’s largest direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme for agriculture, providing ₹6,000 per year in three equal installments to all landholding farmer families. Launched on 24 February 2019, it is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding from the Government of India.
Key Statistics (as of March 2026)
| Parameter | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total disbursement (22 installments) | Over ₹4.27 lakh crore |
| Eligible farmer families | ~11 crore |
| Active beneficiaries per installment | ~9.3 crore |
| Budget 2025-26 | ₹63,500 crore |
| 22nd installment (March 2026) | ₹18,640 crore to 9.32 crore farmers |
| Installment frequency | 3 per year (Apr-Jul, Aug-Nov, Dec-Mar) |
History and Evolution
- 24 February 2019: Launched with first installment; initially only for Small & Marginal Farmers (landholding up to 2 hectares)
- 1 June 2019: Extended to all farmer families irrespective of landholding size
- 2020 onwards: e-KYC (Aadhaar-based) made mandatory to weed out ineligible beneficiaries
- 2023: Physical verification drives in states to validate land records
Eligibility and Exclusions
Eligible: All landholding farmer families as identified by state/UT governments from land records
Family definition: Husband, wife, and minor children
Exclusions:
- Institutional landholders
- Former and present holders of constitutional posts
- Serving or retired officers/employees of Central/State government, PSUs, and autonomous bodies
- Income tax payers in the last assessment year
- Professionals like doctors, engineers, lawyers, chartered accountants, architects
- Retired pensioners with monthly pension ≥₹10,000
Key Features
- 100% Central funding — no state contribution required
- Direct Benefit Transfer to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts — eliminates intermediaries
- Three installments: ₹2,000 each in April-July, August-November, December-March windows
- Digital infrastructure: PM-KISAN portal and mobile app for registration, status check, and grievance redressal
- e-KYC mandatory: Aadhaar-based verification to prevent duplicate/ghost beneficiaries
- State government role: Identification and validation of eligible farmer families using land records
Installment History (Recent)
| Installment | Period | Amount Released | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19th | Dec 2024–Mar 2025 | ~₹18,000 crore | ~9.2 crore |
| 20th | Apr–Jul 2025 | ₹20,843 crore | 9.71 crore |
| 21st | Aug–Nov 2025 | ₹18,681 crore | 9.34 crore |
| 22nd | Dec 2025–Mar 2026 | ₹18,640 crore | 9.32 crore |
Comparison with State Schemes
| Feature | PM-KISAN | Rythu Bandhu (Telangana) | Kalia (Odisha) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | ₹6,000/year | ₹10,000/year per acre | ₹10,000/year |
| Basis | Per family | Per acre of land | Per family |
| Funding | 100% Central | 100% State | 100% State |
| Coverage | All India | Telangana only | Odisha only |
| Tenant farmers | Excluded (need land records) | Excluded | Included |
Challenges
- Tenant farmers and sharecroppers often excluded as they lack formal land records
- Land record digitisation remains incomplete in many states, causing exclusion errors
- Inflation erosion: ₹6,000/year (₹500/month) has limited purchasing power
- No indexation: Amount has remained unchanged since 2019 despite rising input costs
- Ghost beneficiaries: Despite e-KYC, some ineligible beneficiaries continue receiving funds — recovery drives ongoing
Latest Developments
- 13 March 2026: PM Modi released 22nd installment (₹18,640 crore to 9.32 crore farmers) from Guwahati, Assam
- November 2025: 21st installment — ₹18,681 crore to 9.34 crore farmers
- Budget 2025-26: Allocation of ₹63,500 crore
- Total disbursement crosses ₹4.27 lakh crore through 22 installments since inception
- 2024-25: Government intensified physical verification drives to identify and recover payments from ineligible beneficiaries
- Ongoing: e-KYC remains mandatory — farmers without Aadhaar-linked bank accounts excluded from receiving installments
- 2024: Integration with PM-KISAN portal’s “Know Your Status” feature improved transparency
Prelims Importance
- Launch date: 24 February 2019 | Type: Central Sector Scheme (100% Central funding)
- Amount: ₹6,000/year in 3 installments of ₹2,000 each
- Initially for Small & Marginal Farmers (≤2 hectares); extended to all farmer families from 1 June 2019
- Total disbursement: Over ₹4.27 lakh crore through 22 installments (as of March 2026)
- Budget 2025-26: ₹63,500 crore
- Exclusions: Income tax payers, government employees, professionals, pensioners (≥₹10,000/month)
- Family definition: Husband, wife, and minor children
- Mandatory e-KYC via Aadhaar for all beneficiaries
- Inspired by: Telangana’s Rythu Bandhu scheme (launched 2018)
Mains & Interview Importance
GS3 — Agriculture, Economy:
- Critically analyse the effectiveness of direct income support (PM-KISAN) versus price support (MSP) for farmer welfare. Which approach better addresses agrarian distress?
- PM-KISAN provides a uniform ₹6,000 regardless of farm size or region. Evaluate whether a differentiated benefit based on landholding or agro-climatic zone would be more equitable.
- Discuss the role of PM-KISAN in the broader shift from subsidy-based to investment-based agricultural policy.
GS2 — Governance:
- Examine the role of DBT and Aadhaar-based authentication in reducing leakage in welfare schemes, using PM-KISAN as a case study.
- How do incomplete land records and the exclusion of tenant farmers challenge the inclusivity of PM-KISAN?
Interview angles:
- “Should PM-KISAN be indexed to inflation, or should the government increase the amount periodically?”
- “Is ₹500 per month meaningful for a farmer? What would you do differently to make income support more impactful?”
- “Compare India’s PM-KISAN with Ehsaas Kafalat (Pakistan) and Bolsa Familia (Brazil) as direct cash transfer models.”
Essay connection: Universal Basic Income debate, Direct Benefit Transfer revolution, agrarian crisis, technology in governance