Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently released more than Rs 18,640 crore as part of the 22nd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. This disbursement has benefited over 9.32 crore farmers, with 2.15 crore of them being women farmers. The total amount distributed under the scheme has now exceeded Rs 4.27 lakh crore, establishing PM-KISAN as one of the world’s largest direct benefit transfer initiatives.
The PM-KISAN scheme operates through Aadhaar-based authentication and digitized land records, ensuring a transparent and efficient direct benefit transfer to verified beneficiaries. It is recognized as a crucial step towards honoring farmers, with the recent Union Budget allocating Rs 60,000 crore for the scheme in 2026-27. Evaluations by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and NITI Aayog have shown that farmers are experiencing increased agricultural income and reduced dependence on informal credit.
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) has had a positive impact on farmers across various regions, enabling them to invest in their fields and enhance agricultural productivity. Beneficiaries like Bhamini from Kerala and Anil Haldar from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have utilized the financial assistance to improve farming practices and diversify their crops. Similarly, Deepak Singh Negi from Jammu and Kashmir has seen improvements in crop quality and yield by investing in essential agricultural inputs through the scheme.
The PM-KISAN scheme, launched in 2019, aims to provide income support to landholding farmer families nationwide. Each eligible family receives Rs 6,000 annually in three equal instalments through the Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism. This support has not only strengthened farmers’ productivity but also sustained their livelihoods effectively.
