PM-KISAN: An Overview
PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) is a Central Sector Scheme launched on February 24, 2019, to provide assured income support to landholding farmer families with cultivable land.
Key Facts and Data Points
- 23rd Instalment: Over ₹18,880 crore released in West Bengal during PM KISAN Utsav Diwas
- Beneficiaries: Nearly 9.44 crore eligible farmers (including 2.18 crore women farmers)
- Women Beneficiaries: More than 23% of total beneficiaries are women
- Total Disbursement: Over ₹4.46 lakh crore through 23 instalments
- Budget Allocation (2026-27): ₹60,000 crore
- Annual Support: ₹6,000 per eligible farmer family per year
- Installment Structure: Three equal instalments of ₹2,000 each
Financial Assistance Structure
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Amount | ₹6,000 per family |
| Installment Size | ₹2,000 each |
| Number of Installments | 3 per year |
| Transfer Mode | Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) |
| Account Requirement | Aadhaar-seeded bank account |
Objectives of PM-KISAN
- Increase farmers' income and provide financial stability
- Support purchase of agricultural inputs (seeds, fertilisers)
- Improve crop health and agricultural productivity
- Reduce dependence on informal credit sources
- Enhance liquidity for better farm investment
- Encourage risk-taking in agricultural activities
- Strengthen agricultural resilience across India
Implementation Framework
Beneficiary Identification
- State Governments identify eligible farmer households
- Database maintained includes: name, age, category, Aadhaar number, bank account details, and mobile number
- Beneficiary lists displayed at village level for transparency
Monitoring Mechanism
- Multi-tier framework at national, State, and district levels
- National review mechanism chaired by the Cabinet Secretary
- Grievance redressal system for excluded farmers to seek inclusion
Digital Delivery Ecosystem
PM-KISAN Portal and Mobile App
- Online registration and verification
- Fund-transfer tracking
- e-KYC services
- Improved transparency and accessibility
Kisan-eMitra: AI-Powered Support
About: AI-enabled chatbot introduced in 2023 as part of PM-KISAN digital ecosystem
Technical Support: Developed with support from EkStep Foundation and BHASHINI (BHASHINI: BHASha INterface for India - AI-powered language translation initiative)
Features:
- Real-time information on payments, registrations, and eligibility
- 24/7 assistance availability
- Voice and text-based queries
- Application status checking
- Payment tracking
Languages Supported: 11 major languages
- Hindi, English, Tamil, Bengali, Odia
- Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, Telugu
- Marathi, Kannada
Significance of PM-KISAN
- World's largest DBT initiative in terms of direct farmer support
- Evolved from income support to farmer-centric empowerment initiative
- Promotes financial inclusion through Aadhaar-seeding
- Reduces leakages and corruption through DBT mechanism
- Supports Digital India objectives in rural areas
- Empowers women farmers (23%+ beneficiaries)
Related Constitutional/Policy Provisions
- Article 38: State to secure social order for promotion of welfare of people
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Government of India's flagship reform to transfer benefits directly
- Digital India Mission: Supporting digital delivery of government services
- Financial Inclusion: Priority under financial sector reforms
Key Terms for Revision
- PM-KISAN: Central Sector Scheme (not Centrally Sponsored)
- DBT: Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism
- Aadhaar-seeding: Linking of Aadhaar to bank accounts
- EkStep Foundation: Not-for-profit organization supporting education technology
- BHASHINI: India's AI-powered language translation platform