PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana

PM-KISAN provides ₹6,000 yearly income support to eligible small farmers through DBT, aiming to ease farm costs and strengthen rural livelihoods.

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana – Launch, Objectives, Eligibility

Syllabus: Govt. Schemes (UPSC Prelims)

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a Central Sector Scheme launched on 24 February 2019¹ in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. It provides annual income support of ₹6,000 to eligible small and marginal farmer families, paid in three equal instalments through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The scheme aims to ensure basic financial assistance for farm operations and household needs. It is fully funded by the Government of India, with a yearly budget of about ₹75,000 crore.

What is PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana?

PM-KISAN offers direct income support to all eligible land-owning farmer families.
• Each farmer receives ₹2,000 per instalment, three times a year.
• Transfers are made directly to linked bank accounts.
• The scheme helps farmers manage input costs like seeds, fertilizers, labour, and small household expenses.
• Aadhaar authentication is mandatory for receiving benefits.

Key Features

Covers around 12 crore small and marginal farmers across India.
Provides predictable income support every four months.
Entirely financed by the Union Government.
No limitations on how beneficiaries may use the assistance.
Seamless DBT system eliminates middlemen and ensures transparency.
Farmers can self-register using the PM-KISAN portal, mobile app, or at CSC centres.
Centralised grievance redressal system to support beneficiaries.

Objectives of PM-KISAN

Provide assured income support to land-owning farmer families.
Enable farmers to purchase essential inputs and improve productivity.
Strengthen rural livelihoods and reduce vulnerability to income shocks.
Expand coverage to 14.5 crore farmers, with an estimated cost of ₹87,217 crore.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

Small and marginal land-owning farmer families.

Excluded Categories

Institutional landholders.
Former/current holders of constitutional posts.
Sitting/former MPs, MLAs, Ministers, Mayors, Zila Parishad Chairpersons.
Serving/retired government employees with pension ≥ ₹10,000/month.
Income-tax payers.
Professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, CAs, architects practising independently.

Documents Needed

Aadhaar card
Land ownership records
Active bank account details
Proof of citizenship

Advantages of the Scheme

Direct cash transfer ensures transparency and zero leakage.
Digital database enhances accuracy and reduces duplication.
Provides timely support during sowing and harvest seasons.
Helps farmers adopt improved technologies and farming practices.
Reduces dependency on informal credit sources.

Challenges

The ₹6,000 annual assistance is often insufficient relative to rising agricultural costs.
Landless agricultural labourers are excluded, despite high vulnerability.
Benefits sometimes favour relatively better-off farmers due to land-ownership criteria.
Implementation issues arise due to coordination gaps between Centre and States.
Growing focus on cash transfer schemes may divert attention from long-term investments like irrigation, storage, and market reforms.