PM-Kisan instalments may be increased by one tranche

The PM-KISAN scheme came into effect on December 1, 2018. It intends to give land-holding farmer households an annual income assistance of Rs 6,000 in three equal instalments

An increase in PM-Kisan instalments by one more tranche is likely in the offing, CNBC-TV18 reported quoting sources.

However, the inclusion of landless farmers in the PM-Kisan may not be feasible, the sources added. CNBC-TV18 had earlier this month quoted sources saying that the inclusion of landless farmers, tenant farmers and sharecroppers within the scope of the PM-KISAN plan is now a possibility.

On October 4, the Centre saw savings of Rs 10,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) Yojana in the past year due to the removal of 1.72 crore 'ineligible' beneficiaries. While there has been no proposal yet on the Government leveraging its savings under PM Kisan Yojana, it does make room to increase the number of payment instalments.

Also read: Over 81,000 farmers deemed ineligible for PM-Kisan scheme in Bihar

Sources also said that the fiscal outlay of the PM-Kisan scheme may be doubled if tenant farmers and share croppers are included, although such inclusion would be conditional.

The centre is yet to draft a proposal to incorporate any of the changes to the scheme.

The PM-KISAN scheme came into effect on December 1, 2018. It intends to give land-holding farmer households an annual income assistance of Rs 6,000 in three equal instalments. As per the rules of the scheme, state administrations are in charge of selecting qualified farming families and money is then sent straight to their bank accounts.