Government Releases 24th Instalment of PM-KISAN, Transferring Over ₹18,690 Crore to 9.34 Crore Farmers

The government has released the 24th instalment of the Pradhan Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, distributing over ₹18,690 crore directly to more than 9.34 crore eligible farmers. The latest disbursement brings the cumulative financial assistance provided under the scheme to over ₹4.64 lakh crore since its inception.

Overview of PM-KISAN

Launched on February 24, 2019, PM-KISAN is a centrally sponsored initiative designed to provide assured income support to landholding farmer families across India. Eligible households receive ₹6,000 annually, distributed in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 directly into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) framework.

Key objectives and features include:

• Assisting small and marginal farmers with timely agricultural investments.
• Reducing reliance on informal credit for seeds, fertilizers, and equipment.
• Strengthening rural household financial stability.
• Utilizing digital infrastructure such as e-KYC and the PM-KISAN portal for transparency.

Technology Integration and Support Systems

The scheme leverages modern technology to streamline beneficiary verification and service delivery. Farmers can complete mandatory e-KYC through multiple channels, including OTP-based authentication, biometric scanning, and face authentication via the official PM-KISAN mobile application.

Additionally, the platform incorporates 'Kisan-eMitra', an AI-enabled chatbot introduced in September 2023. Developed with technical support from the EkStep Foundation and BHASHINI, the chatbot offers 24/7 assistance in 11 major Indian languages, allowing farmers to check payment statuses and application details through voice and text queries.

Scheme Continuation and Governance

In July 2026, the Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the PM-KISAN scheme from 2026-27 through 2030-31, committing a total financial outlay of ₹3.15 lakh crore. State governments oversee beneficiary identification, database management, and grievance redressal, working alongside national monitoring frameworks.

Farmers can verify announcements, check beneficiary status, or register grievances by visiting the official PM-KISAN portal at pmkisan.gov.in or utilizing the official mobile application.