PM-KISAN - Direct Benefit Transfer for Farmers

PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) is a central government direct income support scheme for farmers launched in December 2018. The scheme provides Rs. 6,000 annually to eligible farmers in three installments of Rs. 2,000 each, transferred directly to their bank accounts. Eligibility is restricted to marginal and small farmers with cultivable landholding up to 2 hectares; however, several states have extended the scheme to all farmers regardless of land size. Payment cycles are synchronized with agricultural seasons (typically April, August, and December). Registration is primarily done through the pm-kisan.gov.in portal using farmer's Aadhaar number and land records. The state revenue department automatically enrolls eligible farmers based on land records; manual registration is also possible. Farmers receiving PM-KISAN support can combine it with other government schemes like crop insurance (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana), credit-linked subsidies for farm implements, and MGNREGA employment. Funds are credited directly to the farmer's bank account or post office savings account linked to Aadhaar. The scheme operates through the state agriculture department, which verifies eligibility using land records from the revenue department. Payment status and installment details can be checked online on the PM-KISAN portal by entering the farmer's phone number or Aadhaar. A critical pitfall: many ineligible persons (large landholders) have fraudulently enrolled in the scheme using false land documents; authorities conduct periodic verification and seek reimbursement from ineligible beneficiaries. Farmers who have received payments while ineligible face recovery actions.