ArdorComm Media News Network
November 20, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday disbursed the 21st instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme during an event in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. With this release, ₹18,000 crore has been transferred directly to the bank accounts of nearly 9 crore farmers across India through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
Launched on February 24, 2019, PM-KISAN provides ₹6,000 per year to every eligible landholding farmer family, delivered in three instalments of ₹2,000 each. The funds reach beneficiaries through Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, making it one of the largest DBT programmes globally. To date, over ₹3.70 lakh crore has been distributed to more than 11 crore farmer families, with women farmers making up over 25% of the beneficiaries.
A robust digital ecosystem underpins the scheme, enabling strong transparency measures. Aadhaar-based e-KYC, digital verification of land records and the dedicated PM-KISAN portal ensure reliable beneficiary authentication. Farmers can self-register online, while payments are seamlessly processed via the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
Technological upgrades continue to make the scheme more accessible. The PM-KISAN mobile app, revamped in 2023 with face authentication, allows farmers to complete e-KYC remotely and track payments. The bilingual Kisan-eMitra AI chatbot, available in 11 regional languages, has helped resolve over 95 lakh farmer queries on eligibility, registration and payment issues.
The Centre has also expanded beneficiary coverage through saturation drives. During the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in 2023, over one crore new eligible farmers were added. Another 25 lakh farmers were onboarded in the first 100 days of the new government in mid-2024. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of beneficiaries in the 20th instalment, followed by Maharashtra.
For India’s small and marginal farmers — over 85% of the farming population — PM-KISAN provides critical financial support, especially during sowing and harvesting seasons when inputs and labour costs rise. The scheme has also reduced dependence on informal moneylenders and increased financial stability during challenging times.
Implementation is closely monitored by both Central and State governments. Beneficiary lists are displayed at the village level to ensure transparency and allow eligible farmers who were excluded to apply. States and Union Territories are required to recover funds paid to ineligible individuals — as of August 2025, ₹416 crore has been reclaimed.
To improve delivery of welfare schemes further, the Ministry of Agriculture is developing a National Farmer Registry, which aims to create a unified digital database. This will help farmers access government benefits more easily without repeatedly submitting documentation.
Source: DD News