The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a flagship scheme introduced by the Government of India in February 2019 to offer financial support to small and marginal farmers. Eligible farmers are given ₹6,000 annually in three installments of ₹2,000 each through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into their bank accounts. The primary aim of PM-KISAN is to provide a steady income to farmers and help them in covering agriculture and household expenditure.
The scheme originally covered farmers with holdings up to two hectares, but was subsequently made available to all landholding farm families irrespective of the landholding size. The scheme seeks to cut down on farmers’ reliance on informal credit and enable them to invest in seeds, fertilizers, and other agricultural inputs. Through providing direct financial assistance, PM-KISAN encourages financial inclusion and rural stability.
To date, millions of farmers throughout India have benefited from the scheme, which ranks among the world’s biggest direct income support schemes. The PM-KISAN program remains an important contributor to the economic well-being and protection of India’s farming community.