Analysis based on	Editorial published on PM Kisan Yojana 19th Installment 2025: ‘Agri sector developed rapidly under govt, about Rs 3.5 lakh crore reached farmers,’ says Modi ahead of release in The Indian Express on February 24th, 2025
Topics for UPSC Prelims	Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
Topics for UPSC Mains	Impact of government schemes on farmers, agricultural productivity

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) is a government scheme aimed at helping farmers by providing them direct financial support. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2019, the scheme helps small and marginal farmers meet their basic needs for farming, like buying seeds, fertilizers, and other important things. Recently, on February 24, 2025, the 19th installment of the scheme was released, benefiting 9.8 crore farmers with ₹22,000 crore. 

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About the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana

PM-KISAN stands for Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, which translates to the "Prime Minister’s Scheme for Farmers’ Respect." The goal of this scheme is to give financial help to farmers who own small pieces of land. These farmers often struggle with money to buy things they need to farm. The government gives ₹6,000 every year to these farmers in three equal payments of ₹2,000. This money is transferred directly to the bank accounts of farmers through a system called Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana

The main reason PM-KISAN was created is to help farmers who face financial difficulties. Many farmers struggle to get the money they need for farming because they cannot afford seeds, fertilizers, or even tools. Some farmers even end up borrowing money from moneylenders at high interest, which makes their situation worse. PM-KISAN helps these farmers by giving them money directly, so they don’t have to borrow from others. This also helps farmers continue with their farming activities without worrying too much about money.

Read the article on the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana!

Eligibility for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana

Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is a boon for farmers, but only some farmers are eligible to apply. The following eligibility criteria apply:

• This scheme is valid for small and marginal farmers.
• Only farmer families with land for farming can apply for benefits.
• The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
• Farmers from urban areas can also apply.

Nevertheless, there are certain classes of individuals who cannot avail this scheme according to specific guidelines.

How Does PM-KISAN Work?

PM-KISAN works by providing ₹6,000 to farmers every year. This money is given in three parts, each ₹2,000, and is transferred directly into their bank accounts. To make sure the money goes to the right person, farmers must register online and link their Aadhaar (unique identification number) with their bank accounts. This system ensures that the benefits reach only the eligible farmers.

Beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana

The PM-KISAN scheme is mainly for small and marginal farmers who own land. As of 2025, more than 9.8 crore farmers across India are benefiting from the scheme, and this number keeps growing. Among these farmers, there are also 2.41 crore female farmers who are getting help from the scheme. The scheme is especially helpful to farmers in rural areas who are often the most in need of financial support.

Read the article on the Kisan Vikas Patra Scheme!

Current Status of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana

There has been notable progress with the PM-KISAN scheme since its launch. As of February 2025, direct transfers of over ₹3.46 lakh crore have been made under the scheme in 18 installments. The 19th installment released in February 2025 was historic, with over ₹22,000 crore credited to the accounts of 9.8 crore farmers.

The PM-KISAN scheme has witnessed impressive growth, particularly after saturation drives were launched to include more eligible farmers. For instance, the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in November 2023 added over 1 crore new farmers to the beneficiary list, while 25 lakh farmers were added during the first 100 days of the subsequent government in June 2024.

The scheme has also made significant strides in reaching remote areas. With the launch of the PM-KISAN mobile app in 2020 and the introduction of a facial authentication feature for e-KYC in 2023, the government has made it easier for farmers, especially in rural and remote areas, to register, check the status of their payments, and complete necessary formalities.

Read the article on the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana!

Technological Advancements in PM-KISAN

The PM-KISAN scheme has become more efficient with the use of technology. To make sure the money reaches farmers quickly, the government set up the PM KISAN portal. Farmers can use their smartphones to check the status of their payments, register for the scheme, and even complete the necessary formalities online. In 2023, the government launched a PM-KISAN mobile app that allows farmers to easily track their benefits and register themselves.

One important feature is the Face Authentication Feature, which helps farmers in remote areas complete their registration without needing a fingerprint or One-Time Password (OTP). This feature helps farmers who may not have access to high-speed internet or advanced devices. Over 5 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) have been set up to help farmers in villages with the registration process.

Besides that, an AI chatbot named Kisan-eMitra was launched by the government to clarify farmers' questions and assist the farmers in problems such as completion of registrations or payment status. This chatbot has been designed compatible with the local languages which fits the need of farmers basically to take the help of it.

Read the article on the Kisan Rail!

Challenges Faced by PM-KISAN

Even though PM-KISAN has been successful, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed:

• Exclusion of Eligible Farmers: Some farmers who should be receiving the benefits are left out due to mistakes in the registration process or technical issues.
• Digital Barriers: Not all farmers have access to smartphones or the internet, making it difficult for them to register or track their benefits online.
• Landholding Criteria: The scheme is only for farmers who own land, meaning that tenant farmers or those who don’t own land are excluded. Many farmers work on land owned by others and should also receive support.
• Delays in Payments: While the scheme generally works well, there have been times when payments have been delayed due to issues with the system or incorrect information.

Read the article on the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme!

Way Forward

Some improvements are needed for effective implementation of PM-KISAN:

• Including tenant farmers in the scheme: Tenant farmers are those who do not own land but toil enough over that piece of land.
• Digital Access Improvement: Improve internet connectivity in rural areas so as to provide farmers with the necessary tools to register and access their benefits.
• Better Registration Process: The government must improve the registration process so that all eligible farmers could receive assistance with fewer mistakes.
• Monitoring and Feedback: Periodic checks and feedback from farmers can assist the government to highlight the issues and find solutions to enhance the scheme.

Read the article on the List of Agriculture Schemes in India!

The PM-KISAN Yojana has been a significant initiative by the government to help the farmers of India. Direct financial assistance has worked better with millions of small and marginal farmers' lives. Now it is enabled through a seamless digital platform of technology, much easier and clearer to define. However, the gates have not yet been closed: some farmers are housed under exclusions, while some still experience digital barriers. Well, PM-KISAN must open its gates further to these remarkable improvements and be ready to walk toward empowering the farmer towards agriculture betterment in India.

e-KYC Process for PM KISAN  This is the way how eKYC process works for the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. Step 1: Registration with the PM-KISAN portal with details such as name, Aadhaar number, bank account, and land information has to be made by farmers. Step 2: eKYC can be made via Aadhaar linked mobile or Face Authentication. It identifies the farmer without OTP and fingerprint for eKYC completeness. Step 3: Through the PM-KISAN mobile app, this process can be completed as facial recognition is also integrated in the app. Farmers can approach either Common Service Centers (CSCs) or local officials in case of difficulty to complete the eKYC process.

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UPSC Mains Practice Questions

"Financial inclusion is a key aspect of rural development in India." Discuss how the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana contributes to financial inclusion among farmers, particularly in rural areas, and the challenges it faces in achieving universal inclusion.