Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme (PM-KISAN): Explained

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a government-backed scheme that facilitates income support to all families of landholding farmers to supplement their fiscal requirements for procuring various agricultural inputs & related undertakings and domestic needs.

Core Objectives of the PM-KISAN Scheme

• To raise the income of the financially challenged farmers (technically referred to as SMFs, i.e. Small and Marginal Farmers), the GOI rolled out the new scheme, viz “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)” in the financial year 2018.
• The PM-KISAN scheme objectively aims at supplementing the fiscal support to the SMFs in procuring many inputs to ensure better yields and crop health.
• Preventing farmers from relying on moneylenders for meeting agri-based expenditures

Latest update on the scheme

• As per the latest report, farmers across the nation are likely to get Rs 12000 before Diwali. The Central ministry is planning to double the amount of PM-KISAN for the farmers. If this offer comes to effect, then their instalment of Rs 2000 will also escalate to Rs 4000. This decision is likely to come to effect by Diwali 2021. 
• On the contrary, the beneficiaries of PM-KISAN can get the 10th instalment in the near future. In view of the recent media report, the Indian government has fixed rolling out the 10th instalment. 
• All required arrangements have been made to release the instalment. Some reports suggested that the 10th instalment will find its way to the farmer’s account on December 15. Please note that the central ministry has transferred Rs 1.58 lakh crore to nearly crore farmers in pan India^[1].
• The farmers who wish to avail themselves of the scheme’s benefits need to register themselves on or before October 30, 2021. If somehow the last instalment doesn’t find its way to the beneficiary’s account, such an individual will get the preceding amount along with the next instalment. The last date of registration is October 30, 2021. The interested candidate can visit the official portal PM Kisan and apply

Eligible criteria about the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi

All land holding farmer families (subject to the prominent exclusion criteria) are eligible to avail of this scheme. 

The following class of beneficiaries with the strong financial background are not covered under the scheme. 

• All Institutional Landholders
• Farmer families in which one or more of its members covered under the given categories 
• Erstwhile and prevailing holder of the constitutional posts
• Erstwhile and prevailing Ministers/ State Ministers & former/present LokSabha or RajyaSabha members/State Legislative Assemblies/ State Legislative Councils, Erstwhile & present Mayors of Municipal Corporations, erstwhile & present District Panchayats’ chairperson. 
• All active or past employees of Central/ State Government Ministries/ Departments/ Offices & its field units State or Central PSEs & government-backed Autonomous Institutions/ Attached offices & officials of the local agencies (excluding Multitasking Staff/Group D officers/Class IV) 
• All retired pensioners whose monthly pension is equal to or more than Rs.10,000/-(excluding Multitasking Staff/Group D officers/Class IV) of the aforementioned category
• All eligible taxpayers who paid their taxes in the preceding assessment year
• Professionals like Engineers, Doctors, advocates, CAs, & Architects registered with concerned institutions. 

Benefits available under PM-KISAN scheme

Under this scheme, all families of the landholding farmers shall have access to monetary benefit worth Rs 6000/annum per family, payable three equivalent instalments of Rs 2000 each, every quarter.

How to apply for the PM-KISAN scheme?

The eligible farmers can opt for this scheme by applying with the village Patwaris, designated officers, revenue officials and submitting their requested detail to them.

Farmer can approach the nearby Common Service Centres (aka CSCs) for registration and apply accordingly.

Details enclosed for scheme registration include basic details such as Name, Age, Category, Aadhaar number. In case of the non-availability of the Aadhaar card, the applicant can submit DL, Voted ID, NREGA Job Card, or other documents accorded by relevant government agencies. The applicant also needs to share their contact number and account number.

Conclusion

PM-KISAN Scheme aims at bettering the lives of small farmers in India by rendering adequate fiscal supports. The scheme was formulated and rolled out under the supervision of the Modi-led government. Until now, thousands of financially aggrieved farmers have taken benefit of this scheme.

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