New Delhi, Oct 30: The Centre has disbursed more than Rs 4.64 lakh crore to farmers across India through 24 instalments of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, highlighting the scale of the government’s direct financial assistance programme for agricultural households.
According to a government factsheet issued on Friday, eligible farmer families receive Rs 6,000 annually under the scheme in three equal instalments, with the money transferred directly into their bank accounts.
Rs 60,000 Crore Allocated in Union Budget
The Union Budget for 2026–27 has earmarked Rs 60,000 crore for the PM-KISAN scheme.
In another major decision, the Union Cabinet in July 2026 approved the continuation of the programme from 2026–27 to 2030–31, with a total financial outlay of Rs 3.15 lakh crore.
The government said the decision reflects its continued commitment to supporting farmers’ income security and strengthening the rural economy.
How Farmers Receive PM-KISAN Benefits
Under the scheme, eligible landholding farmer families receive annual assistance of Rs 6,000, paid in three instalments of Rs 2,000 each.
To receive the benefit, farmers must ensure that their land records are seeded on the PM-KISAN portal, their bank accounts are linked with Aadhaar and their e-KYC verification is completed.
The scheme was launched on February 24, 2019, to provide income support to farmer families across the country who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria.
Direct Payments Help Meet Agricultural Expenses
The financial assistance is intended to help farmers meet essential agricultural and household expenses.
According to the government factsheet, the funds enable beneficiaries to make timely investments in seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, agricultural machinery and other farming requirements.
The assistance is also intended to reduce dependence on informal sources of credit and improve the financial stability of rural households.
Multi-Level Verification Ensures Direct Fund Transfer
PM-KISAN operates through a digital payment and verification system designed to ensure that financial assistance reaches eligible beneficiaries.
Farmers can register through the PM-KISAN portal, mobile application or Common Service Centres (CSCs). State governments verify their eligibility and upload beneficiary details to the portal.
The system subsequently validates Aadhaar and bank account information and screens applications to identify ineligible beneficiaries.
After approval by the state authorities, beneficiary records are forwarded to the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) for account verification. Payment requests are then processed following the issuance of sanction orders by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
The funds are transferred through sponsor banks and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
PM-KISAN Among World’s Largest DBT Programmes
The government describes PM-KISAN as one of the world’s largest Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) initiatives.
By eliminating intermediaries in the payment process, the scheme seeks to improve transparency, ensure timely delivery of assistance and strengthen financial inclusion among farming households.
With more than Rs 4.64 lakh crore disbursed through 24 instalments, PM-KISAN remains a major component of the Centre’s efforts to provide direct income support to farmers.