Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 21st instalment of the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi scheme on November 19, taking forward one of the world’s largest direct benefit transfer programmes.
Since its launch on February 24, 2019, the scheme has disbursed more than ₹3.70 lakh crore to over 11 crore farmer families through 20 instalments. Each eligible farmer receives ₹6,000 annually, credited directly to their Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts after land verification and e-KYC.
PM-KISAN has expanded into a wide digital ecosystem designed to eliminate middlemen and ensure benefits reach even the most remote villages. Aadhaar-based e-KYC—available through OTP, biometric authentication or facial recognition—remains central to verifying beneficiary identity. The scheme also dedicates over 25% of its benefits to women farmers.
Digital tools have strengthened the programme’s delivery. The PM-KISAN mobile app offers direct services, including e-KYC through facial authentication, allowing farmers to complete verification for themselves and others from home. The portal pmkisan.gov.in now features a “Know Your Status” option and an easy self-registration module, while Common Service Centres and India Post Payments Bank support doorstep Aadhaar-based banking and registrations.
A grievance redress system through the PM-KISAN portal, CPGRAMS and the AI-enabled Kisan-eMitra chatbot provides real-time support in 11 regional languages. The chatbot, powered by Large Language Models, offers 24/7 access, automatic language and scheme detection, and voice-based interaction, helping farmers check application status, payment details and scheme information without navigating complex menus.
To expand coverage, the government has conducted saturation campaigns across villages to identify and include all cultivable landholding farmers. A 2019 study by the International Food Policy Research Institute found that PM-KISAN funds boosted rural economic activity, eased credit constraints, encouraged productive investments and improved farmers’ capacity to manage risks. Beneficiaries also reported using the income to meet educational, medical and household expenses.
To further streamline services, the Agriculture Ministry has launched a nationwide Farmer Registry to simplify access to social welfare schemes and reduce documentation requirements.