Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi yojana (PM-KISAN) is a financial support scheme for land-holding farmers’ families to help them in agricultural and allied activities as well as domestic needs. The scheme aims to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields. It is entirely financed by the Government of India.
Those farmers’ families who meet the PM-KISAN eligibility criteria are paid ₹6,000 per year in 3 equal installments deposited directly into their bank account. The installments are paid in April–July, August–November, and December–March. The states and Union Territories are tasked to identify and verify the land-holding farmers’ families who are eligible for PM-KISAN scheme.
Since its inception of this scheme, ₹3.46 lakh crore have been disbursed in 18 installments and ₹22,000 crore were disbursed in the 19th instalment on February 24, 2025. Nearly 9.8 crore farmers including 2.41 female farmers are beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi yojana.
The family as per the PM-KISAN scheme guidelines includes husband, wife and minor children (under 18 years of age). The ownership is established based on the land records of the concerned state or Union Territory. The scheme was launched in February 2019 and implemented with effect from December 1, 2018. While the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi eligibility criteria is well-defined in the scheme guidelines, it also has a detailed breakdown about the exclusions and ineligible groups.
PM-KISAN Eligibility Requirements
Those individuals or families which fulfill the following conditions are eligible for PM-KISAN scheme:
- Those who own cultivable land-holding in their names, irrespective of the size of their land holdings
- Farmers’ families whose names are entered into the land records (excluding Jharkhand and the North-Eastern states)
- The cut-off date for determination of land-holding is February 1, 2019 and no changes are considered for the next 5 years
- The e-KYC is mandatory for verifying the identity of beneficiaries under the PM-Kisan scheme
PM-KISAN Scheme Exclusion Criteria
Now that you know who is eligible for Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, the government has specified a detailed list of exclusions and ineligibilities which mainly excludes the families from high-income strata from availing the benefits of this scheme. Here are the categories of farmers’ families which are ineligible for Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi.
- Institutional land holders.
- Farmer families belonging to following categories
- Former or present holders of constitutional posts, Ministers, State Ministers, Members of Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha or State Legislative Assemblies or State Legislative Councils, Mayors of Municipal Corporations, Chairpersons of District Panchayats.
- Serving or retired officers and employees of Central or State Government Ministries or Offices or Departments and its field units, Central or State PSEs and attached offices, autonomous institutions under government and Local Bodies (Multi Tasking Staff, Class IV, Group D employees excluded)
- Superannuated and retired pensioners with monthly pension of ₹10,000 or more (Multi Tasking Staff, Class IV, Group D employees excluded)
- Those who paid income tax in the last assessment year
- Professionals like doctors, engineers, lawyers, chartered accountants, and architects registered with professional bodies and carry out their profession by undertaking practices.
- Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in terms of the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961
Conclusion
Any farmer with a land-holding is eligible for Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi and the beneficiaries are paid ₹6,000 per year in 3 equal installments to help them in agricultural and allied activities as well as domestic needs. The scheme is aimed at providing crucial financial assistance to farmers. It, however, excludes high-income strata farmers.
