“The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme continues to empower India’s small and marginal farmers with timely ₹6,000 annual payments, disbursed in three installments. The 20th installment, released on August 2, 2025, benefited 9.7 crore farmers. With stricter verification and e-KYC mandates, the scheme ensures transparency, while farmers are urged to update details to avoid payment delays.”
PM Kisan Yojana: Delivering Prompt Financial Support to Farmers
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, launched in February 2019, remains a cornerstone of India’s efforts to bolster the financial stability of small and marginal farmers. Providing ₹6,000 annually in three equal installments of ₹2,000 each, the scheme supports farmers in meeting agricultural and household expenses. Fully funded by the Government of India, the funds are directly transferred to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, ensuring transparency and efficiency.
On August 2, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 20th installment from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, disbursing over ₹20,500 crore to approximately 9.7 crore farmers. This milestone underscores the scheme’s scale, with over ₹3.69 lakh crore transferred to farmers’ accounts since its inception. The 19th installment, released on February 24, 2025, in Bhagalpur, Bihar, benefited 9.8 crore farmers with ₹21,500 crore, highlighting the scheme’s consistent reach.
Farmers have lauded the scheme for its direct payment mechanism, which eliminates middlemen. Jagmendra, a farmer from Rohtak, Haryana, told IANS, “The money helps us buy fertilizers, seeds, and insecticides on time, reducing the need to borrow.” Another farmer, Upendra, emphasized, “The direct transfer to our accounts is the best part. Earlier, middlemen siphoned off benefits, but now it’s seamless.”
However, timely payments hinge on compliance with e-KYC and Aadhaar-linking requirements. The government has tightened verification processes, reducing the beneficiary count from 12 crore to 10.5 crore to weed out ineligible recipients. Farmers are urged to complete e-KYC via the PM-KISAN portal (pmkisan.gov.in) or Common Service Centres (CSCs) to ensure uninterrupted payments. The process involves entering Aadhaar details and verifying via OTP or fingerprints. Failure to update details, such as mismatched names or bank account information, can lead to payment delays.
The 21st installment is expected in September or October 2025, following the scheme’s four-month cycle. Farmers are advised to check their beneficiary status on the PM-KISAN portal by entering their registration or mobile number under the “Beneficiary Status” section. The portal also allows corrections to Aadhaar details and provides helpline numbers (011-24300606, 155261) for resolving issues.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has introduced the Kisan e-Mitra AI chatbot, available in 10 regional languages, to address farmers’ queries in real time. Integrated with Bhashini, the chatbot supports text and voice inputs, enhancing accessibility. Additionally, the scheme is linked to the Kisan Credit Card (KCC), enabling beneficiaries to access low-interest loans of up to ₹3 lakh for agricultural needs.
While the scheme has been transformative, some challenges persist. Farmers have reported issues with the PM-KISAN mobile app, such as errors when debugging is enabled or difficulties updating rejected applications. The government is working to resolve these technical glitches to improve user experience.
In Rohtak, farmers like Shiv Kumar have expressed gratitude for the scheme’s impact. “It’s a lifeline for poor farmers. The ₹2,000 installments help us manage expenses without relying on moneylenders,” he said. Suggestions for increasing the annual amount to ₹9,000 have surfaced, but no official confirmation has been made for 2025.
The PM-KISAN scheme, inspired by Telangana’s Ryuthu Bandhu initiative, continues to strengthen rural economies. With a budget of ₹75,000 crore annually, it supports agricultural productivity and reduces financial burdens, ensuring farmers can invest in better equipment, seeds, and fertilizers.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information from government websites, news reports, and public sources as of September 2, 2025. Readers are advised to verify details on the official PM-KISAN portal (pmkisan.gov.in) for the latest updates and eligibility criteria.