The 22nd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) was released on 13 March 2026 in Guwahati, Assam. Nearly 9.32 crore eligible farmers, including more than 2.15 crore women beneficiaries, received around ₹18,640 crore through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The scheme continues to be a major income support measure for small and marginal farmers and is linked to the government’s broader goal of ‘Annadata Samman’.
What PM-KISAN Provides
PM-KISAN is a centrally sponsored scheme launched on 24 February 2019. It provides annual income support of ₹6,000 to eligible landholding farmer families. The amount is paid in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 each through DBT into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts. More than ₹4.27 lakh crore has been transferred through 21 instalments so far.
Eligibility and Delivery System
The scheme is implemented through land records, Aadhaar linkage, bank account verification, and e-KYC. Benefits are released only after beneficiary details are verified on the PM-KISAN portal. State and Union Territory governments identify eligible farmer households and maintain updated databases. Public display of beneficiary lists at village level supports transparency and helps excluded farmers seek inclusion.
Digital Governance and Monitoring
PM-KISAN uses a technology-driven system for registration, verification, payment tracking, and grievance redressal. The portal is integrated with the Public Financial Management System for fund transfer and monitoring. Farmers can complete e-KYC through OTP, biometric, or face authentication. The AI-enabled Kisan-eMitra chatbot provides multilingual assistance on payments, registration, and eligibility.
Impact on Farmers and Public Finance
The scheme is designed to reduce dependence on informal credit and support purchase of seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, and other inputs. Beneficiary feedback and impact studies have shown that the assistance is often used for agricultural investment. The Union Budget 2026–27 has allocated ₹60,000 crore for PM-KISAN, underlining its continued fiscal priority and role in farm income security.
Last Modified: April 29, 2026