Over 7.72 crore Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) are active across India, holding loans totaling around Rs. 10.2 lakh crore, as per an official report. The KCC system has been adopted by 457 banks, handling more than 1,998.7 lakh credit applications. These applications include 631.5 lakh processed by commercial banks, 337.2 lakh by regional rural banks, and 1,030 lakh by cooperative banks.
The data underscores the widespread involvement of various institutions in KCC operations, emphasizing the significant role of cooperative banks in providing agricultural credit, especially at the grassroots level. Recent enhancements in the KCC framework, such as increased credit limits, expanded coverage to allied sectors, and digital integration via the Kisan Rin Portal, have notably enhanced outreach, transparency, and governance.
These reforms have led to improved operational efficiency in the delivery of agricultural credit by enabling data-driven monitoring, expediting loan processing, and ensuring clear claim settlement procedures. The government has raised the crop loan limit under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme from Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh and raised credit limits for fisheries and allied activities from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh.
Differentiated term loans and composite credit limits under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) cater to the needs of marginal and non-marginal farmers based on factors like landholding size, investment capacity, and livelihood requirements. Farmers can receive a flexible credit limit ranging from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 50,000, determined by factors such as land size and cropping patterns, with the composite KCC limit set for a five-year period.
To simplify farmer enrollment and enhance access to institutional credit, the Kisan Credit Card initiative has introduced facilitative measures. A concise one-page KCC application form has been rolled out, with essential applicant details prefilled from banks’ PM-KISAN records. Farmers only need to submit copies of land records and information on cultivated crops for application.
