West Bengal Renames Krishak Bandhu Scheme to Mukhyamantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Announces ₹3,000 Annual Top-Up

The West Bengal government has announced the rollout of the Mukhyamantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme, a newly renamed version of the existing Krishak Bandhu program. The initiative aims to provide additional financial support to farmers across the state who are already registered beneficiaries of the central PM-KISAN program.

During a Cabinet meeting at Nabanna on October 28, 2026, the Chief Minister announced the renaming and the accompanying financial provisions. Approximately 48 lakh to 50 lakh farmers are expected to receive benefits through this state-level top-up.

Financial Assistance and Disbursement Schedule

Under the newly structured scheme, eligible farmers will receive a total annual assistance of ₹3,000 from the state government, distributed across two instalments.

• First Instalment: ₹2,000, scheduled for release on November 5, 2026.
• Second Instalment: ₹1,000, to be disbursed at a later date.

The state government will transfer the funds directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The official launch of the first instalment payment is scheduled to take place from Pursurah in Hooghly district at 11:00 AM.

Combined with central funding, eligible farmer families are slated to receive a total of ₹9,000 annually when factoring in both PM-KISAN and the new state assistance, subject to prevailing eligibility parameters.

Eligibility and Verification Requirements

To qualify for the state top-up, applicants must meet specific criteria:

• Be a permanent resident of West Bengal.
• Be actively engaged in agricultural activities.
• Be registered under the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi Scheme.
• Maintain a valid bank account linked with Aadhaar for DBT transactions.

Farmers are advised to keep their PM-KISAN beneficiary profiles updated, ensure their Aadhaar and bank details are synchronized, and complete any pending e-KYC processes on the official PM-KISAN portal.

Practical Implications and What Remains Unclear

While the administration has confirmed the rollout of the ₹3,000 top-up for PM-KISAN beneficiaries, several details regarding the transition from the legacy Krishak Bandhu framework remain unaddressed in official communications:

• Continuation of Legacy Benefits: It remains unconfirmed whether previous Krishak Bandhu provisions—such as land-holding cultivation assistance and the ₹2 lakh death benefit for families—will remain active, change, or phase out under the newly named scheme.
• Parallel Track Limitations: According to existing Agriculture Department parameters, farmers operate either on the PM-KISAN-linked track or the land-based Krishak Bandhu track, rather than receiving overlapping payouts from both structures simultaneously.
• New Application Processes: No separate application form, registration window, or detailed guidelines have been published yet specifically for the Mukhyamantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme. Existing PM-KISAN recipients are expected to receive the first instalment automatically without filing a fresh application.

How to Verify and Check Status

Farmers seeking updates or looking to verify their payment status can utilize the following official resources:

• PM-KISAN Portal: Beneficiaries can check their registration and payment status using the "Know Your Status" tool on the official portal.
• Helpline Support: While no dedicated helpline exists exclusively for the Mukhyamantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme yet, farmers can reach out via the established Krishak Bandhu Helpline Number at 033-23570021.
• Official Updates: Readers can verify official announcements and check for subsequent notifications directly through the West Bengal Agriculture Department portal or view the primary reference at [GovtSchemes.in](https://www.govtschemes.in/west-bengal-mukhyamantri-kisan-samman-nidhi-scheme).