Wednesday, 05 Aug, 2026
Since its launch in February 2019, PM-KISAN has emerged as one of the world’s largest direct income support programmes for farmers. Image Source: IANS
More than Rs. 4.47 lakh crore has been transferred directly into the bank accounts of farmers through 23 installments, providing sustained financial assistance to millions of agricultural households across the country.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme for another five years, from 2026–27 to 2030–31, with a financial outlay of Rs. 3.15 lakh crore. The decision reinforces the Government’s commitment to placing farmers at the centre of India’s development agenda, recognising that the prosperity of the nation is closely linked to the well-being of its agricultural community. By ensuring timely and predictable income support through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, the scheme provides farmers with greater financial security, enabling them to make essential agricultural investments, improve productivity and build more resilient livelihoods.
Since its launch in February 2019, PM-KISAN has emerged as one of the world’s largest direct income support programmes for farmers. Under the scheme, eligible landholding farmer families receive Rs. 6,000 annually in three equal installments that are transferred directly into their bank accounts. Leveraging Aadhaar authentication, digital verification and a robust DBT framework, the scheme has significantly reduced leakages, enhanced transparency and ensured that benefits reach intended beneficiaries quickly and efficiently. In doing so, PM-KISAN has become a benchmark for technology-enabled welfare delivery, demonstrating how digital governance can improve public service delivery at an unprecedented scale.
The scheme’s achievements over the past several years highlight both its reach and impact. More than Rs. 4.47 lakh crore has been transferred directly into the bank accounts of farmers through 23 installments, providing sustained financial assistance to millions of agricultural households across the country. The 23rd instalment alone benefited over 9.49 crore farmers, with more than Rs. 18,984 crore released directly into their accounts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when rural incomes faced significant stress, PM-KISAN played a crucial stabilising role by disbursing more than Rs. 1.71 lakh crore, helping farmers continue agricultural operations despite economic disruptions. The scheme has also made a meaningful contribution towards women's economic empowerment, with women farmers receiving more than Rs. 1.06 lakh crore under PM-KISAN. Today, nearly one in every four beneficiaries is a woman, reflecting the programme’s growing role in promoting financial inclusion and strengthening women's participation in agriculture.
Source: PM KISAN Portal
Beyond providing direct income support, PM-KISAN has enabled farmers to make timely investments in essential agricultural inputs such as quality seeds, fertilisers, irrigation facilities, farm machinery and other cultivation requirements. Access to assured financial assistance before critical stages of the crop cycle has helped improve farm planning, enhance productivity and reduce dependence on informal sources of credit that often impose high borrowing costs. As a result, the scheme has strengthened the financial resilience of rural households, enabling them to better manage production risks while improving overall agricultural efficiency.
Independent assessments have further validated the effectiveness of the scheme in achieving its intended objectives. An evaluation conducted by the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) of NITI Aayog found that more than 92 per cent of beneficiaries utilised the financial assistance primarily for agricultural activities and productive farm investments. Around 85 per cent of respondents also reported improvements in agricultural income and a reduced reliance on informal credit sources. These findings underscore the scheme’s role not merely as an income support initiative but as a catalyst for improving agricultural investment, enhancing financial stability and encouraging sustainable farming practices.
The positive outcomes of PM-KISAN are also reflected in the broader performance of India’s agricultural sector. Between 2020–21 and 2025–26, foodgrain production witnessed robust growth, supported by improvements in cultivated area and farm productivity. During this period, the area under cultivation expanded by approximately 9.65 per cent, agricultural productivity increased by around 10.53 per cent and overall foodgrain production grew by nearly 21.18 per cent. While multiple policy interventions have contributed to this progress, PM-KISAN has played an important supporting role by ensuring that farmers have access to timely financial resources needed to invest in productive agricultural activities.
The scheme also stands as a successful example of the transformative potential of the Digital India initiative. Through Aadhaar-based authentication, digital beneficiary verification and seamless DBT transfers, PM-KISAN has created a transparent, efficient and accountable system for delivering welfare benefits directly to farmers. By eliminating intermediaries and ensuring faster transfer of funds, the programme has strengthened trust in public institutions while demonstrating how digital technologies can improve governance and enhance service delivery. More importantly, it has empowered farmers with greater financial confidence and encouraged long-term investments in agriculture.
The extension of PM-KISAN until 2030–31 marks another important milestone in India’s efforts to build an Atmanirbhar Bharat with a strong and resilient agricultural sector. Continued financial support under the scheme is expected to further enhance farmers’ capacity to invest in modern farming practices, improve productivity, mitigate agricultural risks and stimulate rural economic growth. As one of the flagship initiatives underpinning the Government’s farmer-centric development strategy, PM-KISAN has evolved beyond a welfare programme into a key instrument for strengthening agricultural resilience, improving rural livelihoods and advancing inclusive economic development. By empowering crores of India’s food producers, the scheme reinforces the crucial role of farmers in driving the country’s journey towards the vision of Viksit Bharat.If you'd like, I can also make this read more like an official PIB feature article with a stronger narrative flow and smoother transitions.
