Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (pm-kisan).

The official name of the central scheme is Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN). The official name of the Maharashtra state scheme is Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana. Both schemes provide direct income support to eligible farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a central sector income support scheme launched by the Government of India to provide financial assistance to small and marginal farmers. Agriculture in India is highly vulnerable to climatic risks, fluctuating market prices, and rising input costs. To provide minimum assured income support, the government introduced PM-KISAN. Under this scheme, eligible farmer families receive ₹6,000 per year, paid in three equal installments of ₹2,000 each. The amount is directly transferred into the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-linked bank account through the Direct Benefit Transfer system. The objective of PM-KISAN is to supplement the financial needs of farmers for purchasing agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and equipment, as well as to meet household expenses. The scheme covers all eligible landholding farmer families across India, irrespective of land size, subject to exclusion criteria. PM-KISAN has become one of the largest direct income transfer programs for farmers in India.

To qualify under PM-KISAN: The applicant must be a landholding farmer. The farmer must be an Indian citizen. The farmer’s name must appear in official land records. Exclusion categories include: Institutional landholders. Government employees (except certain categories). Income taxpayers. Professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers earning professional income. Required documents: Aadhaar card. Land ownership records. Bank account details. Tenant farmers and sharecroppers without land ownership are generally not eligible.

Farmers can apply: Online through the PM-KISAN official portal. Through Common Service Centers (CSCs). At local agriculture offices. Required details: Aadhaar number. Bank account details. Land ownership information. After verification, installments are transferred through DBT.

Introduction

The official name of the central scheme is Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN). The official name of the Maharashtra state scheme is Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana. Both schemes provide direct income support to eligible farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a central sector income support scheme launched by the Government of India to provide financial assistance to small and marginal farmers. Agriculture in India is highly vulnerable to climatic risks, fluctuating market prices, and rising input costs. To provide minimum assured income support, the government introduced PM-KISAN. Under this scheme, eligible farmer families receive ₹6,000 per year, paid in three equal installments of ₹2,000 each. The amount is directly transferred into the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-linked bank account through the Direct Benefit Transfer system. The objective of PM-KISAN is to supplement the financial needs of farmers for purchasing agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and equipment, as well as to meet household expenses. The scheme covers all eligible landholding farmer families across India, irrespective of land size, subject to exclusion criteria. PM-KISAN has become one of the largest direct income transfer programs for farmers in India.

When It Started

PM-KISAN was launched on 24 February 2019 by the Government of India. Initially, the scheme was applicable only to small and marginal farmers owning up to 2 hectares of cultivable land. However, later in 2019, the scheme was expanded to include all landholding farmer families, regardless of land size. The scheme was introduced to provide assured income support in response to agricultural distress and rising input costs. Since its launch, the scheme has undergone multiple reforms including Aadhaar-based verification, e-KYC requirements, and digitization of land records to improve transparency. Installments are released periodically by the central government and credited directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts. PM-KISAN continues to operate nationwide as a major farmer welfare initiative.

State Applicability

PM-KISAN is applicable across all states and union territories of India, including Maharashtra. The scheme is fully funded by the Government of India but implemented through state governments. States are responsible for identifying eligible beneficiaries based on land records. In Maharashtra, district agriculture offices verify land ownership and beneficiary details before forwarding them to the central database. The benefit amount remains uniform across all states—₹6,000 annually per eligible farmer family.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify under PM-KISAN: The applicant must be a landholding farmer. The farmer must be an Indian citizen. The farmer’s name must appear in official land records. Exclusion categories include: Institutional landholders. Government employees (except certain categories). Income taxpayers. Professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers earning professional income. Required documents: Aadhaar card. Land ownership records. Bank account details. Tenant farmers and sharecroppers without land ownership are generally not eligible.

Selection Process

Farmers must register through the PM-KISAN portal or through local agriculture offices. State authorities verify land records and Aadhaar details. After verification, the beneficiary’s data is approved and forwarded to the central government for installment release. There is no lottery or competitive selection. Approval depends entirely on eligibility and verification. Installments are credited directly into bank accounts.

Rejection Process

Applications may be rejected if: Aadhaar is not linked. Land records mismatch. Applicant falls under exclusion criteria. Duplicate or incorrect data. Farmers may correct errors through the portal or local agriculture office.

Who Started It

PM-KISAN was started by the Government of India in 2019 under the leadership of the Prime Minister. It is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The scheme aims to provide direct income support to farmers nationwide.

Application Process

Farmers can apply: Online through the PM-KISAN official portal. Through Common Service Centers (CSCs). At local agriculture offices. Required details: Aadhaar number. Bank account details. Land ownership information. After verification, installments are transferred through DBT.