The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-Kisan Yojana) stands as a significant initiative by the Indian government to extend essential income support to small and marginal farmers across the nation. With the aim of bolstering the financial stability of these farmers, the scheme provides a yearly minimum income support of up to Rs. 6000.
Central to the PM-KISAN Yojana is the provision of financial assistance amounting to Rs. 6000 annually to every eligible landholding farmer family. This sum is distributed in three equal instalments of Rs. 2000 each, disbursed at four-month intervals.
Addressing Economic Disparities in Agriculture
Agriculture serves as the backbone of India’s economy, and the farming community constitutes a vital segment of society. However, the persisting socio-economic disparities between urban and rural areas have posed challenges to the financial prosperity of farming communities. This longstanding issue has affected a substantial portion of the population since the country’s independence.
Both the Central and state governments have persistently endeavored to address this social and economic imbalance through various initiatives aimed at uplifting these communities. The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, launched by the Indian government in 2018, stands as a testament to these efforts.
The 14 instalment of Pm kisan scheme, released on August 9th, 2023, reached nearly 8.5 crore farmers. Guided by its objectives, this initiative aspires to benefit around 125 million farmers in India, particularly those who belong to the marginal or small farming categories.
Genesis of the Scheme
The genesis of the PM-Kisan Yojana can be traced back to the year 2018 when the Telangana state government introduced the Ryuthu Bandhu scheme. This innovative initiative involved the semi-annual disbursal of funds to support farmers’ agricultural investments, receiving widespread acclaim for its direct impact on farmers’ lives.
Building on this success, the Indian Government launched the Farmer’s Investment Support Scheme, designed to provide financial aid to farmers across the nation. Consequently, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana was inaugurated on December 1st, 2018. Initially, an annual allocation of Rs. 75,000 crore was designated for the scheme’s implementation.
Key Elements of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana
The PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana encompasses several crucial features, some of which are highlighted below:
Financial Support
At the heart of the scheme lies its provision of minimum income support to farmers. Eligible farmer families receive an annual sum of Rs. 6000. However, this amount is disbursed in three equal instalments, spread across four months. Farmers thus receive Rs. 2000 every four months, which they can utilize for various purposes, as the scheme’s guidelines do not impose specific usage restrictions.
Funding Mechanism
The funding for PM-KISAN Yojana emanates entirely from the Indian government. Initially, a budget of Rs. 75,000 crore was allocated annually for the scheme’s execution. The latest instalment, disbursed on August 9th, 2020, amounted to Rs. 17,000 crore, transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism.
Beneficiary Identification
While the responsibility of funding rests with the Government of India, the identification of beneficiaries falls under the jurisdiction of State and Union Territory governments. These entities are tasked with identifying the farmer families eligible for the scheme. It is imperative to note that the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana defines a farmer family as one comprising a husband, wife, and minor child or children.
Eligibility Criteria for PM Kisan Scheme A cornerstone of this government initiative is its stringent eligibility criteria. Farmer families meeting these criteria can avail themselves of the benefits offered by the Yojana:
- Small and marginal farmers are eligible for PMKSNY.
- Farmer families owning cultivable land are eligible to apply for the scheme.
- Beneficiaries must be Indian citizens.
Furthermore, the scheme extends its coverage to both rural and urban farmers. However, specific categories of individuals are excluded from the list of beneficiaries.
Exclusions from PMKSNY
The PM Kisan scheme does not extend monetary assistance to all farmers. The following categories of individuals are excluded from its purview:
- Institutional landholders are ineligible for the scheme.
- Farmer families with members who fulfill any of the following criteria are also ineligible:
- Holders or former holders of constitutional positions.
- Present or former government ministry, department, or office employees.
- Individuals who served or are serving in Central or State Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and Government Autonomous bodies.
- Regular employees of local government bodies.
- Present and former Central and State government Ministers.
- Present and former members of legislative bodies, such as the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assembly, and State Legislative Councils.
- Present and former Chairpersons of District Panchayats.
- Present and former Mayors of Municipal Corporations.
- Individuals or families who filed income tax in the previous Assessment Year (AY) are ineligible for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.
- Individuals and their families receiving a pension of Rs. 10,000 or more per month due to retirement or superannuation are excluded, unless they belong to specific employee categories.
- Families of professionals in fields like medicine, engineering, chartered accountancy, law, and architecture are also ineligible for the scheme.
Enrollment Process for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana
Eligible individuals seeking to benefit from the scheme can register as beneficiaries through several channels:
- State governments nominate nodal officers for PM-KISAN Yojana, and individuals can approach them for registration.
- Local patwaris or revenue officers can also be approached for registration.
- Common Service Centres (CSCs) offer enrollment for a nominal fee.
- Online registration is possible through the dedicated Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana portal. To do so, individuals can visit the official website and click on “New Farmer Registration” within the “Farmer’s Corner” section.
For those who self-register or enroll through a CSC, the “Status of Self-registered/CSC farmers” option under the “Farmer’s Corner” allows them to check their PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana status.
Required Documents for Registration
Applicants must provide the following documents when applying for beneficiary status:
- Aadhaar Card
- Proof of citizenship
- Land ownership documents
- Bank account details
When registering online, scanned copies of these documents are necessary.
PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana E-KYC Revitalized
In 2022, the Indian government has once again introduced the PM Kisan Yojana E-KYC authentication process using Aadhar OTP on the official Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana website. Earlier this month, the e-KYC authentication via Aadhar OTP for the PM Kisan scheme was temporarily suspended, leading farmers to opt for biometric KYC authentication by visiting Common Service Centres. However, the central government has now advised farmers to complete their e-KYC authentication using either online or offline methods to ensure the smooth receipt of their upcoming instalment. The process of OTP-based E-KYC can be conveniently conducted by accessing the official PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana website through online means.
Eligibility Criteria for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana
The scheme does not extend eligibility to institutional landholders; therefore, they are not permitted to register for the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.
Additionally, farmer families falling within the following categories are also deemed ineligible for the benefits of the PM Kisan Scheme:
- Families of farmers associated with current or former holders of Constitutional positions are not eligible to participate in this scheme.
- Farmer families connected to present members of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, current central or state ministers, members of state legislative assemblies, members of state legislative councils, current municipal corporation mayors, and district panchayat chairpersons are all excluded from the scheme’s purview.
- Farmer families related to individuals currently or previously serving in state or central government positions, employees of government-affiliated autonomous institutions, and individuals who have retired from government service, are not eligible for enrollment in the scheme.
- Farmer families with retired government officials receiving pensions of around 10,000/- per month are also ineligible to avail the benefits of this scheme.
- Those who paid income tax in the previous year are not eligible to participate.
- Professionals such as lawyers, doctors, teachers, engineers, accountants, architects, and others engaged in similar vocations fall under the category of ineligibility for the scheme.
Checking Beneficiary Status and Village Lists
In cases where a registered farmer has not received the scheduled instalments, they can verify their PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana status online. The process involves the following steps:
- Visit the PM-KISAN official website.
- Navigate to “Beneficiary Status” under the “Farmer’s Corner.”
- Provide the Aadhaar number, registered mobile number, or account number to view the payment status.
Additionally, individuals can verify their inclusion in their village’s beneficiary list through the scheme’s portal:
- Click on the “List of Beneficiaries” tab under “Farmer’s Corner.”
- Select the State, District, Sub-district, Block, and Village.
- Click on “Get Report” to access the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana beneficiary list for the chosen village.
Conclusion
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana stands as a beacon of hope for India’s small and marginal farmers, offering vital financial support to alleviate economic challenges. Through its innovative disbursement mechanism and strict eligibility criteria, the scheme aims to uplift the lives of millions in the farming community. As the government continues its efforts to empower farmers, the PM-KISAN Yojana serves as a testament to the nation’s commitment to fostering agricultural growth and prosperity.