pm kisan samman nidhi yojana

 

What is PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana?

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a flagship income support scheme of the Government of India designed to provide financial aid to all landholding farmer families. Under this central sector scheme, eligible farmers receive ₹6,000 per year, distributed in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 every four months via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into their Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts. Press Information Bureau+3pmkisan.gov.in+3National Informatics Centre+3

Launched on 1 December 2018, PM-KISAN aims to supplement the needs of small and marginal farmers, helping them meet input costs (seeds, fertiliser, etc.) and reduce dependence on informal credit sources. Wikipedia+3pmkisan.gov.in+3Press Information Bureau+3

Key Features & Implementation

Eligibility & Exclusions

To be eligible, a farmer family must own cultivable land recorded in state land records. A family is defined as husband, wife, and minor children. The Better India+2National Informatics Centre+2

However, certain categories are excluded from receiving benefits:

• Income tax payers in the last financial year

• Government employees (union or state) drawing a salary

• Pensioners drawing more than ₹10,000 per month

• Professionals like doctors, engineers, lawyers, etc.
  These exclusions prevent overlap with other income sources and ensure assistance reaches those most in need. The Better India+2Wikipedia+2

Disbursement & Schedule

The ₹6,000 aid is disbursed in three instalments, each of ₹2,000 in fixed quadrimesters:

• April–July

• August–November

• December–March
  The scheme uses DBT to directly credit beneficiary accounts, minimizing leakages via middlemen. Press Information Bureau+3digitalindia.gov.in+3National Informatics Centre+3

For example, the 20th instalment of PM-KISAN was released on 2 August 2025, through which about ₹20,500 crore was transferred to ~9.7 crore farmers. Press Information Bureau+2Press Information Bureau+2

Latest Updates & 20th Instalment (2025)

Release & Scale

On 2 August 2025, the 20th instalment was rolled out, benefitting nearly 9.7 crore farmers across India with about ₹20,500 crore disbursed. Press Information Bureau+2Press Information Bureau+2

Previously, the 19th instalment was released in February 2025, covering more than 9.8 crore farmers and disbursing over ₹22,000 crore. Press Information Bureau+2mint+2

Delay Concerns & e-KYC Compliance

While the instalments are expected every four months, the 20th instalment faced delays. Many farmers were awaiting the ₹2,000 payment beyond the usual June timeframe. Upstox - Online Stock and Share Trading+4Business Standard+4mint+4

A key reason for delays is mandatory e-KYC compliance. Beneficiaries must complete Aadhaar-based verification (OTP, biometric or face authentication) before the deadline, failing which payments may be withheld. Press Information Bureau+4The Better India+4The Economic Times+4

Farmers are urged to check and update their bank account, Aadhaar linkage, and registration status on the PM-KISAN portal to avoid failure in crediting instalments. The Better India+2mint+2

Verification & Exclusion of Non-eligible Beneficiaries

Ahead of the 21st instalment, the government has initiated a verification drive to identify and remove ineligible beneficiaries. Reports suggest that about 31 lakh names might be struck off due to noncompliance or duplication (for example, both husband and wife receiving separate payments). Navbharat Times+2Navbharat Times+2

Benefits & Impact

The PM Kisan scheme has had meaningful effects across rural India:

• It offers direct financial support, easing the burden of input costs and reducing dependence on high-interest loans. digitalindia.gov.in+3pmkisan.gov.in+3National Informatics Centre+3

• Farmers from states like Chhattisgarh have reported being freed from informal lenders:

  “With the money from PM-Kisan, we can manage our farming without loans.” www.ndtv.com

• It enhances financial inclusion since payments are made directly to bank accounts, and incentivizes digital and Aadhaar linkage among rural households. pmkisan.gov.in+3National Informatics Centre+3Press Information Bureau+3

To date, through multiple instalments, the government has disbursed over ₹3.69 lakh crore to farmers under the scheme. Press Information Bureau+2Press Information Bureau+2

Challenges & Criticisms

While PM-KISAN has been praised, it faces several issues:

1. Exclusions or incorrect exclusion
   Some eligible farmers are left out due to land record mismatches, Aadhaar or KYC errors, or state-level procedural issues.

2. Delays in instalments
   The shift in deadlines and verification bottlenecks can hamper expected fund flows, affecting farmers who rely on timely support.

3. Identification & duplication
   Cases where benefits are incorrectly claimed by non-eligible individuals or both spouses, leading to resource leakage. Navbharat Times+1

4. Banking and technical glitches
   Transfer failures due to unmapped Aadhaar accounts, closed bank accounts, or incorrect details block successful disbursal.

5. Limited amount
   ₹6,000 per year, while helpful, may not fully cover agricultural expenses or buffer against major shocks.

6. Sustainability & fiscal burden
   With a large number of beneficiaries, ensuring long-term sustainability and fiscal prudence is important.

How Farmers Can Ensure Eligibility & Timely Payment

• Complete e-KYC before the deadline — OTP, biometric, or face authentication. The Better India+2The Economic Times+2

• Check Aadhaar linkage with bank accounts and correct any discrepancies. Outlook Money+1

• Maintain updated land records and registration on the PM-KISAN portal. mint+1

• Monitor beneficary status via the “Farmers Corner” on the PM-KISAN website. The Better India+2pmkisan.gov.in+2

• Address rejections quickly — if a payment fails, farmers can seek grievance redressal via the portal or local welfare officers.

Conclusion

The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is a cornerstone of India’s agricultural welfare efforts, offering modest but vital financial support to millions of landholding farmers. Through regular DBT payments, it alleviates cashflow burdens and fosters inclusion. However, with evolving requirements—such as e-KYC mandates and verification drives—farmers must stay updated to ensure continuity of benefits. As the scheme matures, robust implementation, technological upgrades, and audits will be key to maximizing equity, efficiency, and impact.