PM-KISAN Scheme 2024 : The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is not just a government scheme; it is a landmark commitment by the Government of India to empower the annadata of the nation – our farmers. Launched in 2019, this central sector scheme has become a cornerstone of agricultural support, providing direct income support to millions of eligible farmer families across the country.
The core objective is simple yet powerful: to supplement the financial needs of land-holding farmers in procuring various inputs related to agriculture and allied activities. By providing direct cash transfers of ₹6,000 per year in three equal installments of ₹2,000, PM-KISAN ensures timely financial assistance, enabling farmers to invest with confidence and dignity.
This comprehensive guide is your one-stop resource for everything related to the PM-KISAN scheme. We will delve deep into the objectives, eligibility criteria, application process, and step-by-step guides to check your payment status and complete vital e-KYC. Whether you are a beneficiary seeking information or a citizen understanding this pivotal scheme, this article covers it all.
1: Understanding PM-KISAN – The Vision and Objectives
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi was inaugurated with a clear vision to strengthen the agricultural backbone of India. Before we get into the procedural details, it’s crucial to understand the “why” behind this massive initiative.
1.1 The Primary Objectives:
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Direct Income Support: To provide a direct payment of ₹6,000 per year into the bank accounts of farmer families, eliminating middlemen and ensuring 100% benefit transfer.
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Promoting Financial Inclusion: The scheme mandates a bank account, thereby bringing more citizens into the formal banking system.
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Ensuring Dignity and Freedom: The money is provided without any conditions, allowing farmers the freedom to spend it as per their specific needs—be it seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, or even domestic requirements.
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Boosting Productivity: By alleviating immediate financial constraints, the scheme aims to enhance agricultural productivity and ensure the sustainability of farming.
1.2 How the Scheme is Funded and Managed
PM-KISAN is a 100% Central Sector Scheme, meaning the entire financial responsibility is borne by the Government of India. The funds are directly released from the central government to the beneficiaries’ accounts, ensuring transparency and efficiency. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare is the nodal ministry responsible for the scheme’s implementation, monitoring, and governance.
The technological backbone of the scheme, the PM-KISAN portal (https://pmkisan.gov.in), is a testament to its transparent nature. It serves as a single window for all stakeholder activities, from registration to grievance redressal.
2: Who is Eligible for PM-KISAN? A Detailed Look
Understanding eligibility is the most critical step. The scheme is designed for specific categories of land-holding farmer families.
2.1 Who is Eligible?
A “farmer family” for the purpose of the scheme is defined as a family consisting of a husband, wife, and minor children who collectively own cultivable land as per the land records of the respective State/UT.
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Small and Marginal Farmers: The scheme is particularly beneficial for small and marginal farmers who own land up to 2 hectares.
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All Landholding Farmers: Farmer families belonging to all socio-economic categories, irrespective of the size of their landholding, are eligible, provided they meet the other criteria.
2.2 Who is NOT Eligible? (The Exclusion Categories)
The following categories of beneficiaries are not eligible to receive benefits under the scheme:
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Institutional Landholders: Any farmer family in which one or more members belong to the following categories:
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Current and former holders of constitutional posts (President, Prime Minister, Governor, Ministers, MPs, MLAs, etc.).
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Current and former government employees (serving or retired) and employees of Central/State Government Ministries/Offices/Departments.
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Individuals who have been retirees from above posts and are drawing a pension of over ₹10,000 per month.
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Professionals like doctors, engineers, lawyers, chartered accountants, and architects who are registered with professional bodies.
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All persons who paid income tax in the last assessment year.
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Serving or retired officers and employees of Central/State PSUs and Government Autonomous bodies.
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It is essential for applicants to self-declare their eligibility correctly to avoid future complications. The government periodically verifies the data, and incorrect declarations can lead to the recovery of benefits.
3: Step-by-Step Guide to New Farmer Registration (2024)
Registration for PM-KISAN can be done both online and offline. The primary method is through the official portal, but the process is often facilitated at the village level.
3.1 Online Self-Registration Process
If you are an eligible farmer, you can register yourself online by following these steps:
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Visit the Official Portal: Go to https://pmkisan.gov.in.
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Click on ‘New Farmer Registration’: This option is available on the homepage.
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Enter Your Aadhaar Number: Your Aadhaar number is the key identifier. Enter it carefully.
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Fill in the Registration Form: The portal will auto-fetch your name from the Aadhaar database. You will need to provide other details manually:
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State, District, Sub-District, Block/Village.
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Bank Account Details (Account Number, IFSC Code).
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Mobile Number (linked to Aadhaar for OTP verification).
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Details of the land as per land records.
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Submit the Application: After verifying all details, submit the form. You will receive a registration number for future reference.
3.2 Offline Registration (Through CSC or State Authorities)
For farmers who are not comfortable with online registration, the government has provided an alternative:
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Common Service Centres (CSCs): You can visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) with your Aadhaar card, land documents, and bank passbook. The CSC operator will help you complete the registration process for a nominal fee.
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State Nodal Officers: The responsibility of registering beneficiaries primarily lies with the State/UT Governments. Local revenue officials, Patwaris, or Lekhpals often collect data and register eligible families in bulk.
It’s important to note that the final approval of the application is subject to verification by the designated State Government authorities.
Chapter 4: How to Check Your PM-KISAN Beneficiary Status and Payment Status
One of the most praised features of the PM-KISAN scheme is the transparency of its portal. Beneficiaries can easily track their application and payment status.
4.1 Checking Beneficiary Status (To see if you are registered)
This is to verify if your name is on the PM-KISAN list.
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Go to the PM-KISAN portal.
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Click on the ‘Beneficiary Status’ tab under the ‘Farmers Corner’ section.
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Select your search method: either by Aadhaar Number, Bank Account Number, or Mobile Number.
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Enter the number and click on ‘Get Data’.
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The screen will display your registration status, along with your name and other details if you are successfully registered.
4.2 Checking Payment Status (To track installment payments)
This is used to see if a specific installment has been credited.
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On the portal, click on the ‘Beneficiary Status’ tab.
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Enter your Aadhaar Number.
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The system will display a table showing the history of all installments.
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The status will show as “Success” if the amount has been credited, “Failure” if the transaction failed (usually due to incorrect bank details), or “Pending” if the installment is yet to be processed.
4.3 Checking the PM-KISAN Beneficiary List by Village
If you want to see the entire list of beneficiaries in your village:
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Click on the ‘Beneficiary List’ tab.
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Select your State, District, Sub-District, Block, and Village.
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Click on ‘Get Report’.
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A PDF list of all registered beneficiaries in that village will be generated. You can search for your name in this list.
Chapter 5: The Critical Step of e-KYC for PM-KISAN
To prevent fraud and ensure that benefits reach the genuine beneficiary, the government has made e-KYC (Electronic Know Your Customer) mandatory. Without completing e-KYC, beneficiaries will not receive subsequent installments.
5.1 Why is e-KYC Mandatory?
e-KYC links your Aadhaar with the PM-KISAN database, authenticating your identity and ensuring the integrity of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
5.2 How to Complete e-KYC
e-KYC can be done online by the farmer or offline at a CSC.
Online Method:
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Visit the PM-KISAN portal.
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Click on the ‘eKYC’ link under the ‘Farmers Corner’ section.
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Enter your Aadhaar Number.
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An OTP will be sent to the mobile number linked with your Aadhaar.
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Enter the OTP to complete the e-KYC process instantly.
Offline Method (Through CSC):
Visit your nearest Common Service Centre with your original Aadhaar card. The Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE) will authenticate using their biometric device and complete the e-KYC for you.
Chapter 6: Common Problems and Grievance Redressal
Despite the streamlined process, beneficiaries sometimes face issues. The most common problems include:
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Payment Failure: Often due to a mismatch between the name in the bank account and the Aadhaar database, or an incorrect IFSC code.
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Name Not in the List: This could be due to pending verification by state authorities or incorrect data entry.
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e-KYC Pending: The most common reason for non-receipt of payment.
How to Raise a Grievance:
The PM-KISAN portal has a robust grievance redressal mechanism.
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Click on ‘Grievance’ on the homepage.
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You can file a grievance as a ‘Beneficiary Farmer’ or a ‘General Public’.
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Select the appropriate grievance category (e.g., Payment Related, Registration Related).
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Fill in the required details and describe your problem clearly.
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You will receive a unique grievance registration number to track the status of your complaint.
For urgent issues, you can also contact the PM-KISAN Helpline: 011-24300606, 155261.
7: PM-KISAN and the Bigger Picture: Impact and the Road Ahead
The PM-KISAN scheme is more than just a financial transfer; it’s a paradigm shift in how agricultural support is delivered. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the scheme has already benefited over 11 crore farmer families with thousands of crores of rupees transferred directly to their accounts. This has had a significant impact on rural economies, providing a safety net and boosting liquidity.
The integration of technology, from the portal to Aadhaar-linked payments, has set a new benchmark for governance. It has drastically reduced leakages and ensured that help reaches the intended beneficiaries.
Looking ahead, the continued success of PM-KISAN hinges on addressing challenges like ensuring all eligible farmers are registered, resolving data discrepancies quickly, and seamlessly integrating with state-level land record databases. As the scheme evolves, it has the potential to become the foundational layer for a more robust and farmer-centric agricultural policy ecosystem in India. For a deeper understanding of agricultural policy, you can read this analysis on the World Bank’s website on agricultural support [External Link 1].
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: I am a farmer but don’t have land in my name. Am I eligible?
A: Unfortunately, no. The scheme is specifically for land-holding farmer families as per the land records.
Q2: What should I do if my payment status shows “Failure”?
A: A “Failure” status usually indicates a problem with your bank details. You must correct your bank account information through the ‘Edit Farmers Details’ option on the portal or by contacting your local revenue officer.
Q3: Is there a last date for registration?
A: There is no official last date announced. The scheme is ongoing, and eligible farmers can register at any time.
Q4: Can a woman head of the family be the beneficiary?
A: Yes, the benefit is provided to the family. The land can be in the name of the husband, wife, or jointly. The financial assistance is transferred to the bank account of the chosen family member.
Q5: Where can I find more official government resources?
A: For the most authentic information, always refer to the official PM-KISAN portal (https://pmkisan.gov.in) and the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare [External Link 2]. For a broader perspective on farmer income support, the NITI Aayog website often publishes relevant reports [External Link 3].
Conclusion
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a transformative scheme that acknowledges the immense contribution of farmers to the nation. By providing direct, transparent, and unconditional financial support, it empowers them to make their own choices and manage their resources effectively. This guide has aimed to provide a complete overview of the scheme. If you are an eligible farmer, we encourage you to complete your registration and e-KYC at the earliest to avail of the benefits. Stay connected to the official portal for the latest updates and continue to nurture the fields that feed the nation.
