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PM Kisan Samman Nidhi: Direct income support of ₹6,000 per year for all landholding farmer families — India's largest Direct Benefit Transfer scheme.Annual Benefit: ₹6,000. Installments: 3 × ₹2,000. Beneficiaries: 9.3+ Crore. Total Disbursed: ₹4.09 Lakh Cr+.PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is a central government scheme launched on 24 February 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under this scheme, all landholding farmer families in India receive ₹6,000 per year as direct income support. The money is transferred directly into the farmer's Aadhaar-linked bank account in three equal installments of ₹2,000 each, every four months, using the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
Active SchemeUpdated: March 2026
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PM Kisan Samman Nidhi

Direct income support of ₹6,000 per year for all landholding farmer families — India's largest Direct Benefit Transfer scheme

Annual Benefit
₹6,000
Installments
3 × ₹2,000
Beneficiaries
9.3+ Crore
Total Disbursed
₹4.09 Lakh Cr+

📖What is PM Kisan Samman Nidhi?

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana is a central government scheme launched on 24 February 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under this scheme, all landholding farmer families in India receive ₹6,000 per year as direct income support. The money is transferred directly into the farmer's Aadhaar-linked bank account in three equal installments of ₹2,000 each, every four months, using the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

The scheme was originally launched for small and marginal farmers with up to 2 hectares of land. However, in June 2019, it was expanded to cover ALL farmer families regardless of land size. This makes it one of the largest cash transfer programs in the world, reaching over 9 crore farmer families across India.

As of March 2026, the government has released 22 installments and transferred more than ₹4.09 lakh crore to eligible farmers since the scheme began. The 22nd installment was released on 13 March 2026 by the Prime Minister from Guwahati, Assam, benefiting over 9.32 crore farmers with a total disbursement of ₹18,640 crore.

The primary goal of PM Kisan is to supplement the financial needs of farmers for purchasing seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other agricultural inputs. It also helps farmers manage household expenses such as children's education and medical needs. The scheme is entirely funded by the central government (100% central sector scheme), while state and UT governments are responsible for identifying eligible beneficiaries using land records.

Eligibility

Who can applyAll families who own cultivable farmland anywhere in India
Land requirementMust have farmland registered in the family member's name in state/UT land records
Family definitionHusband, wife, and their minor children are counted as ONE family — only one member can register
CitizenshipMust be an Indian citizen residing in India
Income limitNo income limit for farmer families (income-based exclusions apply separately — see below)
Documents neededAadhaar card (mandatory), bank account linked to Aadhaar, land ownership records (Khatauni/Khasra), mobile number linked to Aadhaar

🚫Who CANNOT Get PM Kisan Benefits

Even if you own farmland, you are NOT eligible if you or any member of your family falls in these categories:

1. Current or retired officers/employees of central or state government ministries, departments, or field units (excluding Multi-Tasking Staff, Class IV employees, and Group D employees who ARE eligible).

2. Anyone who is or was a Member of Parliament, MLA, MLC, Mayor, or Zila Parishad Chairperson.

3. Anyone currently serving or retired from constitutional posts.

4. Anyone who paid income tax in the previous assessment year (even if they are a farmer).

5. Professionals like doctors, engineers, lawyers, chartered accountants, and architects who are registered with professional bodies AND earn income from their profession.

6. Anyone receiving a monthly pension of ₹10,000 or more (excluding Multi-Tasking Staff and Group D employees).

7. Institutional landholders — land owned by trusts, companies, or institutions does not qualify.

Important: If even one family member (husband, wife, or minor child) falls in any of these categories, the entire family becomes ineligible.

📊Complete Installment History

InstallmentPeriodRelease DateAmountBeneficiaries
22ndDec 2025 – Mar 202613 March 2026₹18,640 Cr9.32 Cr
21stAug – Nov 2025Oct 2025₹18,681 Cr9.34 Cr
20thApr – Jul 2025Jun 2025₹20,843 Cr9.71 Cr
19thDec 2024 – Mar 202524 Feb 2025₹22,000+ Cr10.07 Cr
18thAug – Nov 2024Oct 2024₹20,000+ Cr9.4 Cr
17thApr – Jul 2024Jun 2024₹20,000+ Cr9.3 Cr

🔍How to Check Your Payment Status

1
Go to the PM Kisan portal
Open pmkisan.gov.in in your browser. On the homepage, look for 'Farmers Corner' section on the right side.
2
Click on 'Beneficiary Status'
This opens the status check page. You can search using three methods: Aadhaar Number, Account Number, or Mobile Number.
3
Enter your details and click 'Get Data'
Enter your Aadhaar number (recommended — most reliable), type the captcha, and click search.
4
View your installment history
The page shows ALL installments — which ones were paid, the amount, date of transfer, and any that are pending or rejected. If an installment shows 'FTO is Generated and Payment confirmation is Pending', the money is on its way.

🔧Common Problems and Solutions

Problem: Payment stopped after a few installments — This usually happens because e-KYC expired or land records were not re-verified. Complete e-KYC again on the portal or at your nearest CSC center. Also check if your state government has updated land records.

Problem: Status shows 'Aadhaar not authenticated' — Your Aadhaar is not linked to your bank account. Visit your bank branch with your Aadhaar card and ask them to seed (link) your Aadhaar to your account. This is different from just having an Aadhaar card.

Problem: Status shows 'Rft Signed by State' but no money received — The state government has approved your payment, but the bank transfer is pending. Wait 5-7 working days. If still not received, check if your bank account is active and has no freeze/hold.

Problem: Name mismatch between Aadhaar and bank account — Even small differences (like 'Ramesh Kumar' vs 'Ramesh Kumar Singh') can block payments. Get your name corrected in either your Aadhaar (at Aadhaar center) or bank account (at bank branch) so both match exactly.

Problem: 'Payment Failure' status — Common causes include: closed bank account, account frozen by bank, incorrect IFSC code, or bank merger (old IFSC no longer valid). Contact your bank to verify account status, then update details on the PM Kisan portal through your CSC center.

Problem: Land records not verified — In some states, land record digitization is incomplete. Contact your local Patwari or Lekhpal to ensure your land ownership details are correctly entered in the state's digital land records system.

📝How to File a Grievance

1
Visit the PM Kisan Grievance Portal
Go to pmkisan.gov.in and click on 'Grievance' in the Farmers Corner section. This opens the CPGRAMS-linked grievance system.
2
Register your complaint
Enter your name, mobile number, Aadhaar number, and describe your problem in detail. Upload any supporting documents (bank statement, land records, etc.) if available.
3
Note your grievance ID
After submission, you'll receive a unique grievance ID. Save this — you'll need it to track your complaint status.
4
Track resolution
Grievances are typically resolved within 30-60 days. Check status using your grievance ID on the same portal. If not resolved, escalate by calling the PM Kisan helpline at 155261 or 011-24300606.

🔑e-KYC — Why It's Mandatory and How to Do It

Since 2022, e-KYC (Electronic Know Your Customer) is mandatory for ALL PM Kisan beneficiaries. If you haven't completed e-KYC, your installments will be held until you do. This was introduced to remove fake and duplicate beneficiaries from the system.

Method 1 — OTP-based e-KYC (online, 2 minutes): Go to pmkisan.gov.in → click 'e-KYC' under Farmers Corner → enter Aadhaar number → click 'Search' → enter OTP received on your Aadhaar-linked mobile → submit. This works only if your mobile number is linked to Aadhaar.

Method 2 — Biometric e-KYC (at CSC center): Visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC). Carry your Aadhaar card. The CSC operator will verify your identity using fingerprint/iris scan. This costs ₹0 (free) under PM Kisan. Use this if your mobile number is not linked to Aadhaar.

Method 3 — Face Authentication (PM Kisan app): Download the PM Kisan mobile app from Google Play Store. Open the app → go to Face Authentication → follow the prompts to scan your face. This method was introduced in 2023 for farmers in remote areas.

Important: e-KYC needs to be done only once, but the government may ask for re-verification periodically (usually annually). When re-verification is required, you'll see a notification on the PM Kisan portal or app.

💳Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Link with PM Kisan

The government has linked PM Kisan with the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme. PM Kisan beneficiaries can apply for a KCC card and get short-term agricultural loans at subsidized interest rates (currently 4% per annum after interest subvention).

KCC provides loans up to ₹3 lakh without any collateral. The loan can be used for crop production, post-harvest expenses, farm maintenance, and allied activities like dairy and fisheries. PM Kisan beneficiaries get priority processing for KCC applications.

To apply for KCC: Visit your nearest bank branch (where your PM Kisan account is linked), carry your PM Kisan registration details, Aadhaar card, land records, and passport-size photos. The bank processes KCC applications within 14 days for PM Kisan beneficiaries.

📝How to Apply

1
Visit pmkisan.gov.in
Open the official PM Kisan website. On the homepage, find the 'Farmers Corner' section on the right side and click on 'New Farmer Registration'.
2
Select registration type
Choose 'Rural Farmer Registration' if your land is in a village/rural area, or 'Urban Farmer Registration' if your land is in an urban area. Select your state from the dropdown.
3
Enter Aadhaar number and verify
Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and the image captcha code. Click 'Search'. The system checks if you are already registered. If you see 'Record Not Found', you can proceed with new registration.
4
Fill the complete registration form
Enter all details carefully: Full name (exactly as on Aadhaar), state, district, block, village, bank account number, IFSC code, mobile number. Then enter land details — survey number/khasra number, khata number, and land area from your land records (Khatauni).
5
Upload documents if required
Some states require you to upload scanned copies of your land records. Keep a clear photo or scan of your Khatauni/land ownership document ready.
6
Submit and note your registration number
After submitting, you'll receive a registration number. Save this carefully — you'll need it to check your application status. The state government will now verify your land records.
7
Complete e-KYC immediately
Don't wait — go to the e-KYC section on the same portal and complete OTP verification using your Aadhaar. Without e-KYC, even after approval, your payments will be blocked.
8
Check status after 2-3 weeks
Land record verification by the state government takes 2-4 weeks. Check your application status on the portal using your registration number. Once approved, you'll start receiving installments from the next payment cycle.
⚠️e-KYC is mandatory for ALL beneficiaries. The 22nd installment (March 2026) has already been released. If you didn't receive it, check if your e-KYC is complete and your Aadhaar is linked to your bank account. Call PM Kisan Helpline: 155261 or 011-24300606.

📅Important Dates & Schedule

22nd InstallmentReleased 13 March 2026 (₹2,000)
23rd Installment (next)Expected June–July 2026 (₹2,000)
24th InstallmentExpected October–November 2026 (₹2,000)
e-KYC StatusMust be completed — no deadline but payments held until done
Helpline HoursMonday–Friday, 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Frequently Asked Questions

🔗Related Schemes

PM Kisan Official Website
pmkisan.gov.in
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