PM KISAN Yojana update: Government announces release date for 21st installment, key upgrades

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The Centre will release the 21st instalment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojana on 19 November, continuing its annual income support of ₹6,000 to eligible farmer families. Under the scheme, launched in 2019, more than ₹3.70 lakh crore has already been transferred directly into the bank accounts of over 11 crore farmers through 20 instalments.

Ahead of the next release, the government has rolled out a series of major digital upgrades to simplify verification, strengthen grievance redressal, and expand last-mile reach. Here are the key developments farmers should be aware of before the 21st instalment is credited.

When was the last installment released?

The government released 20th installment under the PM-Kisan scheme on August 2, 2025. A total of Rs 20,500 crore was transferred directly into the bank accounts of 9.7 crore farmers across the country. While the wait for 21st installment is continues, many expect that the 21st installment will be credited sometime in mid-November 2025 based on the previous disbursement pattern— though no official announcement has been made yet.

What is PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana?

Under the PM Kisan initiative, qualifying farmers receive Rs 2,000 every four months, totaling Rs 6,000 per year. The money is distributed in three installments each year: April-July, August-November, and December-March. The funds are deposited immediately to the beneficiaries' bank accounts. The initiative was announced in the Interim Budget 2019 by then-finance minister Piyush Goyal and then implemented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

What new changes have been introduced

1. Three New e-KYC Options Introduced

To receive the upcoming instalment, farmers must have completed e-KYC, which is now available in three formats:

• OTP-based e-KYC
• Biometric e-KYC
• Face-authentication e-KYC

2. New ‘Know Your Status’ Feature on PM-KISAN Portal

Ahead of the 21st installment release, a new “Know Your Status” option has been added on the PM-KISAN portal (pmkisan.gov.in), allowing beneficiaries to quickly check whether their instalment is approved, if their Aadhaar or bank details need correction. It will also allow beneficiary to check if their land records are updated or if e-KYC is pending.

3. PM-KISAN Mobile App Strengthened

The government has also added major upgrade to the PM-KISAN Mobile App. The app now allows to track payment, e-KYC completion, beneficiary updates, and gives access to scheme details

4. AI Chatbot ‘Kisan-eMitra’ Launched for Grievances

In a significant move, the government has introduced Kisan-eMitra, an AI-powered chatbot built on Large Language Models (LLMs).

The Key features include:

• Available 24/7
• Works in 11 major regional languages including Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi, Bengali, Odia, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu and Kannada
• Automatic Language Detection for voice queries
• Automatic Scheme Detection for quicker responses
• Touch-free system for simple navigation
• Accessible via kisanemitra.gov.in
• Farmers can now check payment details, resolve queries and raise issues without visiting offices.

The Agriculture Ministry has begun work on a national Farmer Registry, a verified database of all land-owning cultivators.

Once ready, this registry will:

Remove the need for repeated document submissions
Help farmers get benefits from multiple schemes automatically
Reduce duplication and improve accuracy

6. Doorstep Banking Support via IPPB

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) continues to assist PM-KISAN beneficiaries by offering Aadhaar-based account opening at home, Aadhaar–bank linking and providing support for PM-KISAN registration and corrections.

Additionally, in a press release, the government said that it is conducting special village-level saturation campaigns to identify farmers who have incomplete land records and haven’t completed e-KYC. The drive will also explore if they are not receiving instalments due to Aadhaar or bank mismatches.