Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PMKISAN) is a financial support scheme for land-holding farmers’ families to help them in agricultural and allied activities as well as domestic needs. This scheme is entirely financed by the Government of India and aims to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields.
The PMKISAN scheme was launched in February 2019 and implemented with effect from December 1, 2018. Land-holding is the basic eligibility criteria for the scheme, which is to be established based on the land records of the concerned state or Union Territory. However, the high-income strata and taxpayers are excluded. The cut-off date for the determination of land-holding was 01.02.2019, and no changes were then considered to be for the next 5 years.
Nearly 9.8 crore farmers, including 2.41 female farmers, are beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi yojana. Since its inception of this scheme, ₹3.68 lakh crore have been disbursed in 19 instalments till February 2025.
The states and Union Territories are tasked to identify and verify the land-holding farmers’ families for the scheme. The PMKISAN beneficiary farmers’ families are paid ₹6000 per year in three equal instalments deposited directly into their Aadhaar-linked bank account.
When are PMKISAN Instalments Released?
The PMKISAN scheme instalments are released thrice in a year. These instalments are paid in April–July, August–November, and December-March and the beneficiary farmers are paid ₹2000 after every four months. On February 24, 2025, the union government released the 19th instalment of ₹22,000 crore, which was disbursed among 9.8 crore beneficiaries. Before that, the 18th PMKISAN instalment was released on October 5, 2024, and the 17th instalment was released on 18 June, 2024.
Key Steps to Ensure Timely PMKISAN Payment
The important steps to be taken by State and Union Territory governments and the Union Government for timely payment under PMKISAN into the beneficiary account are listed below:
- State and UT governments are to identify the beneficiaries and upload the beneficiary details on the web portal of the PMKISAN scheme.
- Correctness of beneficiary details is to be ensured by the State and UT governments.
- Speedy reconciliation in case of wrong or incomplete bank details of the beneficiary should be ensured.
- The PMKISAN beneficiary account is to be credited periodically after the issuance of the Sanction Order.
- PMKISAN beneficiaries would be informed about the credit of PMKISAN money to their account by SMS.
- Failed and unsuccessful transactions would be reported back by the banking system to the DAC&FW
- Details of failed transactions would be made available to States and UTs for further verification of beneficiary details and reprocessing.
How is PMKISAN Installment Deposited?
The PMKISAN money is deposited directly into the beneficiary’s bank account, which ensures transparency. The beneficiary’s bank account should, however, be linked to his or her Aadhaar number.
Who Can Enrol for the PMKISAN Scheme?
A farmer who has a landholding can enrol under the PMKISAN scheme. However, the government has restricted the eligibility criteria by exempting certain classes of farmers, including tax-payers, professionals, serving or retired government employees (excluding multi-tasking staff, Class IV and Group D employees), and serving and retired legislators.
Conclusion
The PMKISAN instalment payment is made three times in a year. While the beneficiary farmer is eligible for ₹6000 per year, it is paid in three equal instalments of ₹2000. The payments are made in April–July, August–November, and December–March and the beneficiary farmers is immediately informed through an SMS that the payment has been made into his or her account.
