The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme is a flagship initiative of the Government of India aimed at providing financial assistance to small and marginal farmers across the country. Launched in February 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PM-KISAN is designed to supplement the income of farmers and ensure their financial security.
Under this scheme, eligible farmers receive direct income support of Rs. 6,000 per year in three equal installments. The funds are transferred directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries to ensure transparency and minimize leakages. The scheme is entirely funded by the central government and is implemented through the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW).
The primary objective of PM-KISAN is to address the economic distress faced by farmers due to various factors such as fluctuating crop prices, rising input costs, and natural calamities. By providing direct income support, the government aims to enable farmers to meet their agricultural expenses, repay debts, and improve their standard of living.
The scheme targets small and marginal farmers who own up to 2 hectares of cultivable land. Initially, the scheme covered only landholding farmer families, but later it was extended to include all farmer families irrespective of the size of their landholding. However, certain categories of beneficiaries such as institutional landholders, income tax payers, and retired pensioners with a monthly pension of over Rs. 10,000 are excluded from the scheme.
PM-KISAN has emerged as one of the largest income support schemes for farmers in the world, benefiting millions of farming families across India. It plays a crucial role in ensuring income stability and improving the socio-economic condition of farmers, thereby contributing to the overall growth and development of the agriculture sector in the country.
