PM-KISAN Scheme Achieves Landmark: Disburses 16th Instalment, Benefits Over 11 Crore Farmer Families

Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rs 1.75 lakh crores were transferred to eligible farmers, providing crucial direct cash benefits when they were most needed.

Launched on February 2, 2019, the PM-KISAN scheme aims to provide positive supplementary income support to farmer families across India, promoting a productive, competitive, diversified, inclusive, and sustainable agriculture sector. Eligible beneficiaries receive Rs. 6000 per year in three equal instalments of Rs. 2000 each, transferred directly to their bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer mode, leveraging modern digital technology.

The scheme recently expanded its reach further, adding 90 lakh new beneficiaries as part of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, which aimed to ensure the saturation of government welfare schemes across over 2.60 lakh Gram Panchayats.

Over the last five years, PM-KISAN has garnered praise from various quarters, including the World Bank, for its visionary approach, scale, and efficient fund transfer mechanisms. A study conducted by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Uttar Pradesh highlighted that the benefits reached the majority of farmers without leakages, leading to increased investments in agricultural equipment, seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides.

To enhance transparency and efficiency, continuous improvements have been made to the scheme’s digital infrastructure. The PM-KISAN portal has been integrated with portals of various government agencies, and states and union territories have been onboarded to facilitate quick services to farmers. Additionally, initiatives like the Kisan e-Mitra, a voice-based AI Chatbot available in 10 languages, enable farmers to raise and resolve queries in real-time.

The PM-KISAN scheme exemplifies cooperative federalism, with states responsible for registering and verifying farmer eligibility, while the central government provides full funding. The inclusive nature of the scheme is evident, with at least one in four beneficiaries being a woman farmer, and over 85% of small and marginal farmers benefiting from it.