The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) Yojana was launched in 2019 and has since become a major initiative in the NDA-led central government's efforts to uplift the agrarian community. The scheme aims to provide financial stability to farmers and boost rural livelihoods.
Under the scheme, eligible farmers receive Rs 6,000 annually, disbursed in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 each. This amount is directly transferred to their bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism. The direct transfer ensures transparency and reduces administrative delays.
Initially targeting small and marginal farmers with landholdings of up to two hectares, the scheme was expanded in June 2019 to include all farmer families, irrespective of landholding size, barring a few exceptions.
Not all farmers are part of the scheme
Farmers excluded from the programme include institutional landowners, serving or retired government employees, professionals such as doctors and lawyers and individuals who paid income tax in the previous assessment year. Beneficiary data is compiled and verified by state and union territory governments, with Aadhaar authentication playing a crucial role in preventing duplications.
How to register as a beneficiary for PM-Kisan?
PM-Kisan has provided a financial safety net to millions of farmers, especially during times like the COVID-19 pandemic. It helps farmers meet household expenses, purchase agricultural inputs and reduce dependence on informal credit sources. As of 2024, the scheme has disbursed over Rs 2.55 lakh crore to more than 11 crore beneficiaries.
Farmers can enroll in the PM-Kisan Yojana by visiting their local revenue officer or the PM-Kisan Nodal Officer designated by the state government. Alternatively, they can self-register online through the Farmers Corner on the official PM-Kisan website at pmkisan.gov.in.
To further assist with the registration process, the government has established Common Service Centres (CSCs), providing farmers with convenient access to enrollment services.
Challenges surrounding PM-Kisan
The scheme, though popular, has not been without hurdles. Issues such as incomplete land records, delays in fund transfers and exclusion errors have affected its implementation. Critics also argue that the Rs 6,000 annual assistance is insufficient to address the broader challenges of rural poverty and agrarian distress.
Additionally, farmers in some regions have reported difficulties in registering for the scheme due to lack of digital access or administrative bottlenecks.
Are the beneficiaries declining?
The number of farmers benefiting from the PM-Kisan scheme has dropped by 14 percent in 2023-24, falling to 9.21 crore from 10.73 crore last year, the government informed Parliament in February. If the beneficiary count remains within 9.5 crore, the annual expenditure could amount to Rs 57,000 crore, based on the current payout of Rs 6,000 per farmer per year.
Punjab recorded the steepest decline among major agricultural states, with beneficiaries dropping by 45 percent to 9.34 lakh from 17.08 lakh last year. Maharashtra saw an 11.5 percent decline, reaching 92.5 lakh farmers, while Uttar Pradesh, reported a 16.5 percent drop to 2.03 crore beneficiaries. For FY25, the government has allocated Rs 60,000 crore under PM-Kisan yojana.
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