PM-KISAN
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is India's largest farmer income support scheme, launched on 1 February 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. It provides ₹6,000 per year to every landholding farmer family in India, paid in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 each — directly credited into the farmer's Aadhaar-linked bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
The scheme was initially limited to small and marginal farmers owning up to 2 hectares of land. However, following Cabinet approval in June 2019, PM-KISAN was expanded to cover all farmer families regardless of the size of their land holding. This single expansion added crores of farmers to the coverage.
PM-KISAN operates on a negative (exclusion) list model — every farmer is eligible UNLESS they fall into one of the specified exclusion categories. This makes it one of India's most inclusive welfare schemes. The exclusion list includes institutional landholders, constitutional post-holders, serving and retired government officers (except Group D/MTS), income tax payers in the last assessment year, and professionals like doctors, engineers, lawyers, and chartered accountants.
Instalments are typically released in April, August, and December. The 19th instalment was released in February 2025 — with each subsequent instalment credited directly to over 9–11 crore beneficiaries in a single day, making it one of the world's largest simultaneous payment operations.
The scheme is 100% centrally funded — states do not contribute. The land records verification is done at state/district level, which is why the speed of registration varies by state. States like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan have the highest number of beneficiaries.
Since 2022, PM-KISAN has made e-KYC mandatory to continue receiving instalments. Farmers who miss e-KYC lose pending instalments until KYC is completed. e-KYC can be done through OTP (on pmkisan.gov.in), biometric at Common Service Centres (CSC), or face authentication via the PM-KISAN mobile app.
PM-KISAN also serves as a gateway to the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme — eligible PM-KISAN beneficiaries are fast-tracked for KCC issuance, making it easier for farmers to access crop loans at concessional interest rates.
Key Objectives
- Supplement financial needs of farmers for procurement of inputs for crop cycles.
- Protect farmers from falling into the clutches of moneylenders for agricultural expenses.
- Provide direct income support to ensure financial security to the farming community.
- Enhance agricultural productivity through assured income for input purchase.
Benefits
Eligibility
- All farmer families holding cultivable land registered in their name
- Small, marginal, and large farmers — all included post June 2019
- Joint landholders — all co-owners eligible (each family gets one ₹6,000)
- Farmers in both rural and urban local body areas
- Land records must be registered in the farmer's (or spouse's) name
- Aadhaar-linked bank account mandatory
- e-KYC mandatory to continue receiving instalments (since 2022)
- One benefit per farmer family (husband + wife + minor children count as one family)
- Institutional land holders (companies, trusts, societies)
- Former or current holders of constitutional posts (President, Vice President, MPs, MLAs, Ministers)
- Serving/retired Central and State Government employees (excluding Group D/Multi Tasking Staff/equivalent)
- All persons who paid income tax in the last assessment year
- Professionals — doctors, engineers, lawyers, CAs, architects with active practice
- Retired pensioners drawing monthly pension ≥ ₹10,000 (except Multi Tasking Staff/Group D)
- Persons who are or were a Board Director of a PSU/Autonomous Body
How to Apply
Step 1: Check eligibility — visit pmkisan.gov.in → Farmers Corner → Beneficiary Status
Step 2 (if not registered): Click 'New Farmer Registration' on Farmers Corner
Step 3: Enter Aadhaar number, mobile number, and select your state
Step 4: Fill in land details — Khasra number, Khatauni number, and land area
Step 5: Submit — you receive an acknowledgement/reference number
Step 6: Local Patwari or Revenue Officer verifies your land records (takes 1–4 weeks)
Step 7: District/State approves — your name appears in beneficiary list
Step 8: Complete e-KYC (mandatory) — via OTP at pmkisan.gov.in or biometric at CSC
Step 9: First instalment credited to Aadhaar-linked bank account
Alternative: Register through Common Service Centre (CSC) — operator does it for you
Required Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check my PM-KISAN payment status?
Visit pmkisan.gov.in → Farmers Corner → Beneficiary Status. Enter your Aadhaar number, registered mobile number, or bank account number and click 'Get Data'. You will see all instalment payment history with dates and amounts credited.
When is the next PM-KISAN instalment date in 2025?
PM-KISAN releases 3 instalments per year. In 2025, instalments are typically released in April (Kharif I), August (Rabi), and December (Kharif II). The exact release date is announced by the Prime Minister's Office — follow pmkisan.gov.in for official announcements. The 19th instalment was released in February 2025.
My PM-KISAN instalment is stuck. Why is it not coming?
The 5 most common reasons instalments stop: (1) e-KYC not completed — visit pmkisan.gov.in and complete OTP-based e-KYC immediately; (2) Aadhaar not linked to bank account — visit your bank branch; (3) Bank account closed or incorrect IFSC — update on the portal; (4) Land record mismatch — contact your local Patwari; (5) Name mismatch between Aadhaar and land records — update on the portal.
How do I do PM-KISAN e-KYC?
Three ways: (1) OTP-based (easiest): go to pmkisan.gov.in → Farmers Corner → e-KYC → enter Aadhaar number → enter OTP sent to Aadhaar-linked mobile → done; (2) Biometric at CSC: visit your nearest Common Service Centre with your Aadhaar — operator does fingerprint authentication; (3) Face authentication via PM-KISAN mobile app.
Can large farmers (more than 2 hectares) get PM-KISAN?
Yes. The 2-hectare ceiling was removed in June 2019. All landholding farmer families in India are now eligible regardless of land size — provided they do not fall in the exclusion list (income tax payers, government employees, etc.).
I am a government employee. Am I eligible for PM-KISAN?
It depends. Central/State Government employees drawing ₹10,000+ per month salary or pension are excluded. However, Group D employees and Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) are NOT excluded — they can receive PM-KISAN if they own agricultural land. Retired Group D employees are also not excluded.
My father owns the land but he passed away. Can I get PM-KISAN in my name?
You need to first transfer the land records to your name through mutation (dakhil kharij) at the revenue department. Once the land is in your name, you can register for PM-KISAN. The process varies by state — contact your Patwari or Tehsildar for the mutation process.
Is PM-KISAN taxable income?
Yes, technically PM-KISAN is income from the central government and is taxable under the Income Tax Act. However, most PM-KISAN beneficiaries are small farmers with total income below the basic exemption limit (₹2.5 lakh or ₹3 lakh for senior citizens) and will not owe any tax. Importantly, receiving PM-KISAN does NOT make you ineligible — only if you were already an income tax PAYER in the last assessment year are you excluded.
Can a tenant farmer or sharecropper get PM-KISAN?
No. PM-KISAN is only for landholding farmer families — the land must be registered in the applicant's (or their family's) name. Tenant farmers and sharecroppers who do not own land are not eligible under the central PM-KISAN scheme, though they may be eligible for state-specific farmer support schemes.
How do I update my bank account number in PM-KISAN if I changed banks?
Visit pmkisan.gov.in → Farmers Corner → Edit Aadhaar Failure Records (or contact your State Government's PM-KISAN Nodal Officer). You can update bank account details through the portal or at your nearest CSC. Make sure the new account is also Aadhaar-linked. If you have already received instalments in the old account, inform your bank to avoid any DBT failure.
I received PM-KISAN money but I am not eligible. What should I do?
You should voluntarily return the amount. The Government conducts periodic eligibility verification — if found ineligible, the amount is recovered from future government dues or through the bank. Voluntary refund avoids penalties. You can refund at pmkisan.gov.in using the 'Refund PM-KISAN' option on the portal, or visit your nearest bank.
How many instalments have been released under PM-KISAN?
As of February 2025, the Government has released 19 instalments since the scheme's launch in February 2019. Each instalment is ₹2,000, totalling ₹38,000 per eligible farmer over 6 years.
What is the difference between PM-KISAN and state farmer schemes like Rythu Bandhu or YSR Rythu Bharosa?
PM-KISAN is a Central Government scheme (₹6,000/year) available to all farmers across India. Rythu Bandhu (Telangana) and YSR Rythu Bharosa (Andhra Pradesh) are state-specific schemes — Rythu Bandhu gives ₹10,000/acre/year and Rythu Bharosa gives ₹7,500/year. Eligible farmers in AP and Telangana can receive BOTH their state scheme AND PM-KISAN.
My name is on the beneficiary list but I have not received any instalment. What should I do?
Check the following in order: (1) Is your Aadhaar linked to your bank account? Visit bank branch if unsure; (2) Is your bank account number correct in the PM-KISAN portal? Check at Beneficiary Status; (3) Have you completed e-KYC? Incomplete KYC pauses payments; (4) Is there a DBT mapping issue? File a grievance at pmkisan.gov.in → Contact Us → Grievance.