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Grant Agriculture

PM-KISAN — Direct Income Support

₹6,000 per year direct transfer to farmers

Maximum benefit
₹6K
Typical processing
30–60 days from registration to first credit (depends on verification cycle)
Apply on official portal

About this scheme

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a Central Sector scheme providing direct income support of Rs. 6,000 per year to all landholding farmer families, paid in three equal instalments of Rs. 2,000 every 4 months. The scheme started in February 2019 and now covers over 11 crore farmers. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. This is one of the largest direct income transfer schemes globally.

What you get

  • Rs. 6,000 per year = Rs. 500 per month effective income support
  • Three instalments of Rs. 2,000 each: April-July, August-November, December-March
  • Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) — no intermediaries, no leakage
  • No application fee, no service charge
  • Aadhaar-linked bank account ensures fast crediting
  • Self-registration possible via PM-KISAN portal or via Common Service Centres
  • No income test (other than the exclusion list)

Who qualifies

All landholding farmer families that own cultivable land (record-of-rights in the name of the family). Family definition: husband, wife, and minor children. Both spouses cannot claim separately — one beneficiary per family. The scheme applies regardless of size of landholding, but excludes higher-income groups. Tenant farmers without land titles are NOT eligible (this is a controversial limitation).

Industries (NIC divisions)
Crop productionAnimal productionForestry / fishing
Business types
Proprietorships

Available across India (central scheme).

How to apply

  1. 1Visit pmkisan.gov.in → New Farmer Registration (or visit nearest CSC/DRP)
  2. 2Provide Aadhaar number, mobile number, bank account details (preferably Aadhaar-linked)
  3. 3Submit land ownership records (jamabandi/khatauni/khatian/RoR)
  4. 4Verify via village Patwari / Revenue officer
  5. 5Once verified, registration confirmed via SMS
  6. 6First instalment credited in the next quarterly cycle
  7. 7Annually verify eKYC to continue receiving benefits

Key terms and conditions

  • Mandatory eKYC every year — without it, payments are stopped
  • Land records must be in the beneficiary's name (or family name as per state RoR)
  • Aadhaar-linked bank account is mandatory
  • Bank account name must match Aadhaar name (mismatches block payment)
  • Self-declared exclusion (if applicable) — false declaration leads to recovery + penalty

What disqualifies you

  • Institutional landholders (companies, trusts, government bodies) are excluded
  • Constitutional post-holders (President, MPs, MLAs, mayors, etc.) excluded
  • Government employees (current and retired) earning pension > Rs. 10,000/month excluded
  • Income-tax payers in last assessment year excluded
  • Doctors, engineers, lawyers, CAs registered as professionals excluded
  • Tenant farmers without land title are NOT eligible

Documents typically required

  • Land ownership records
  • Aadhaar
  • Bank account linked to Aadhaar

Frequently asked questions

Q. I am a tenant farmer — can I get PM-KISAN?
No — the scheme requires land ownership in your name. This is a known limitation. Some states have their own tenant farmer schemes.
Q. I am a retired Government employee. Am I eligible?
Only if your pension is below Rs. 10,000/month and you also own cultivable land in your name.
Q. My instalment did not come this quarter — what to do?
Most common reason: eKYC pending or bank-Aadhaar mismatch. Visit pmkisan.gov.in → Beneficiary Status to check exact reason. Fix and the next instalment will resume.
Q. Can both husband and wife get Rs. 6,000 each if both own land?
No. Family is defined as husband + wife + minor children. Only one beneficiary per family.

The content above is compiled from public information published by the scheme authority. Eligibility, benefits, and procedures are subject to change. Confirm details directly with the official portal before applying. BharatSeal does not process scheme applications.