The Government of India has mandated a farmer ID for new applicants seeking benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme. This requirement was introduced by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and aims to streamline the registration process for farmers. The PM-Kisan scheme provides financial assistance to eligible farmer families, ensuring direct benefits through bank transfers.
What is Farmer ID?
The Farmer ID, also known as Kisan Pehchaan Patra, is a unique digital identity similar to the Aadhaar system. It is linked to the state’s land records and contains crucial information such as demographics, crop details, and land ownership. This initiative is part of the Agri-Stack component under the Centre’s Digital Agriculture Mission, aimed at enhancing digital infrastructure in agriculture.
Implementation Across States
As of January 1, 2025, the farmer ID is mandatory for new PM-Kisan applicants in ten states – Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. These states account for approximately 84% of the total PM-Kisan beneficiaries. The requirement will be extended to additional states in the future.
Benefits of Farmer ID
The implementation of the farmer ID simplifies the registration process for the PM-Kisan scheme. It ensures that applicants are verified landowners, reducing fraud and streamlining benefit distribution. The government aims to create 6 crore farmer IDs by the end of March 2025. As of early January 2025, one crore IDs have already been issued.
Financial Assistance Under PM-Kisan
Under the PM-Kisan scheme, eligible farmer families receive ₹6,000 annually, disbursed in three instalments of ₹2,000 each. This financial support is provided through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), ensuring that funds reach beneficiaries without intermediaries. The scheme was launched on February 24, 2019, and has since facilitated financial aid to farmers.
Recent Developments
On October 5, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 18th instalment of the PM-Kisan scheme, benefiting over 9.4 crore farmers. A Parliamentary panel has recently recommended increasing the annual payout from ₹6,000 to ₹12,000, indicating a potential expansion of financial support for farmers.
Future Prospects
The introduction of the farmer ID is expected to enhance transparency and efficiency in the PM-Kisan scheme. With ongoing efforts to digitise agriculture, the government seeks to improve the livelihoods of farmers across India.
Questions for UPSC:
- Examine the impact of digital identities on agricultural welfare schemes in India.
- Discuss the significance of Direct Benefit Transfer in the context of government schemes.
- Critically discuss the challenges faced in implementing the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.
- With suitable examples, discuss the role of technology in enhancing agricultural productivity in India.
Answer Hints:
1. Examine the impact of digital identities on agricultural welfare schemes in India.
- Digital identities, like the Farmer ID, streamline registration processes, reducing fraud and ensuring only eligible farmers receive benefits.
- They enhance data accuracy by linking to land records, which helps in targeted disbursement of funds.
- Facilitates easier access to government schemes, improving overall efficiency in service delivery.
- Promotes transparency in the agricultural sector, instilling trust among beneficiaries and stakeholders.
- Supports the government’s digital infrastructure initiatives, aligning with broader goals of digital transformation in agriculture.
2. Discuss the significance of Direct Benefit Transfer in the context of government schemes.
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) ensures that financial assistance reaches beneficiaries directly, minimizing leakages and corruption.
- It promotes financial inclusion by encouraging farmers to open bank accounts, enhancing their access to formal financial services.
- DBT improves the speed of fund disbursement, allowing timely support to farmers during critical agricultural periods.
- Reduces the reliance on intermediaries, thereby lowering administrative costs and improving efficiency.
- DBT has been very important in various schemes, including PM-Kisan, ensuring transparency and accountability in government spending.
3. Critically discuss the challenges faced in implementing the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.
- Verification of land ownership can be complex, leading to delays in processing applications and disbursements.
- Digital infrastructure in rural areas may be inadequate, hindering the registration and application processes for farmers.
- Farmers may lack awareness or understanding of the scheme and the required processes, affecting participation rates.
- Potential for fraud and misuse if the verification processes are not robust, undermining the integrity of the scheme.
- Political and bureaucratic hurdles can slow down the implementation and expansion of the scheme across states.
4. With suitable examples, discuss the role of technology in enhancing agricultural productivity in India.
- Use of precision agriculture technologies, like satellite imagery and drones, helps farmers monitor crop health and optimize resource usage.
- Mobile apps provide farmers with real-time weather updates, market prices, and best practices, aiding informed decision-making.
- Soil health management through tech-driven solutions allows for tailored fertilization, improving crop yields and sustainability.
- Blockchain technology can enhance supply chain transparency, ensuring fair prices for farmers and reducing wastage.
- Examples such as digital marketplaces connect farmers directly with consumers, increasing their profit margins and market access.
