PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, Origin, Objectives, Eligibility

Agriculture remains the backbone of India’s economy, yet a large section of farmers continues to face financial insecurity due to small land holdings, high input costs, and market unpredictability. To address these challenges, the Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojana in 2019. This centrally sponsored scheme aims to provide direct income support to farmers, enabling them to manage agricultural expenses and ensure financial stability.

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana Origin and Background

The PM-Kisan scheme was first introduced in the 2019 Interim Budget presented by then Finance Minister Piyush Goyal. Initially targeted at small and marginal farmers holding up to 2 hectares of land, the scheme was later expanded to cover all landholding farmer families irrespective of the size of their landholdings.

The program officially launched on 24th February 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Since its launch, the scheme has become one of the largest income support programs globally in terms of beneficiaries and funds disbursed.

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana Overview

The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana follows a fully digital model using Aadhaar and bank linkage to ensure transparency and eliminate corruption. The table below provides an overview of the scheme.

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana Objectives

The PM Kisan Scheme was launched with multiple goals aimed at improving the economic condition of farmers:

• To provide direct income support to help farmers manage input costs.
• To reduce dependency on moneylenders or non-institutional borrowing.
• To ensure timely investment in crops during the sowing and harvesting periods.
• To contribute towards achieving the vision of doubling farmers’ income.

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana are designed to ensure that financial support reaches genuine landholding farmers across the country. To benefit from the scheme, applicants must be part of a farmer family that owns cultivable land as per government records. The detailed eligibility requirements have been shared below.

Eligible Farmer Families for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana

• Families must have cultivable land recorded in the land records of the state/UT.
• Husband, wife, and minor children count as a single unit for benefits.
• Aadhaar linkage and bank account details are mandatory.

Who is Not Eligible for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana

Certain categories are excluded from the scheme to avoid misuse and target benefits to those in genuine need:

• Institutional landholders.
• Income taxpayers in the last assessment year.
• Former and current holders of constitutional posts.
• Serving or retired officers and employees of Central or State Government ministries, PSUs, and autonomous bodies.
• Professionals like doctors, engineers, lawyers, and architects registered with professional bodies and practicing their profession.
• Pensioners receiving ₹10,000 or more per month (excluding multi-tasking staff, class IV, or group D employees).

Role of e-KYC in PM Kisan Scheme

To enhance transparency and avoid duplication, e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer) is mandatory for all beneficiaries. The process includes:

• OTP-based Aadhaar Authentication via the PM-Kisan portal.
• Biometric authentication at Common Service Centres (CSCs) or mobile app face-auth verification.

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana Impact and Achievements

The PM-Kisan Yojana has made a significant impact in empowering India’s agrarian community:

• ₹3.46 lakh crore disbursed to over 11 crore farmer families till early 2025.
• Encouraged the use of formal banking systems and Aadhaar-enabled services.
• Reduced rural distress during the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring cash liquidity.
• Contributed to rural consumption and GDP growth, particularly in the agricultural sector.

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Challenges in Implementing PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana

Despite its success, the scheme faces some implementation hurdles:

• Errors in Aadhaar or bank details are causing payment failures.
• Lack of land records digitization in certain states.
• Delays in e-KYC completion.
• Inclusion-exclusion errors are due to a lack of awareness among farmers.

Suggestions for Improvement in the PM Kisan Scheme

• Better awareness campaigns for e-KYC compliance and benefits.
• Expansion of coverage to include landless agricultural laborers and tenant farmers.
• Periodic audits and updates to weed out ineligible beneficiaries.
• Increase in financial assistance to counter inflation and rising input costs.