For millions of small and marginal farmers, securing a stable income in old age can be as important as sustaining livelihoods during their working years. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana (PM-KMY), launched on September 12, 2019, seeks to address this need by providing eligible farmers with an assured pension after they turn 60.
As the scheme completes seven years on September 12, 2026, it has enrolled 24,96,252 farmers across the country as of February 6, 2026. The scheme has emerged as an important component of the government’s efforts to extend social security to farming communities, particularly small and marginal farmers with limited financial resources for their later years.
Under PM-KMY, eligible farmers receive a minimum assured pension of ₹3,000 per month from the age of 60. The scheme follows a contributory model in which the farmer and the Central Government make equal contributions towards the pension fund.
Haryana leads enrolments
The scheme’s expanding reach is reflected in its state-wise enrolment figures. Haryana leads with around 5.75 lakh enrolled farmers, followed by Bihar with more than 3.46 lakh.
Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh have each crossed 2.5 lakh enrolments, while Chhattisgarh has recorded more than 2 lakh. Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have also contributed significantly to the scheme’s nationwide footprint.
Since its launch in 2019, ₹540.66 crore has been utilised under PM-KMY as of February 2026, supporting implementation and outreach.
The growing enrolment indicates increasing awareness among farming communities about the importance of planning for financial security beyond their productive years.
A pension shield for the farming community
PM-KMY is a Central Sector Scheme administered by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It is implemented in partnership with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).
The scheme is voluntary and contributory and is intended specifically for small and marginal farmers. Eligible male and female farmers contribute a prescribed amount every month until reaching the age of 60, while the Central Government makes an equal matching contribution.
Depending on the farmer’s age at the time of joining, the monthly contribution ranges from ₹55 to ₹200. An 18-year-old entrant contributes ₹55 per month, matched by ₹55 from the government, taking the total monthly contribution to ₹110.
The contribution rises progressively with age at entry. A farmer joining at 20 contributes ₹61 per month, while the contribution is ₹80 at 25, ₹105 at 30, ₹150 at 35 and ₹200 at 40. In each case, the Central Government contributes an equal amount, taking the total monthly contribution to ₹122, ₹160, ₹210, ₹300 and ₹400 respectively.
The farmer’s contribution is automatically debited from the bank account linked to the scheme. At enrolment, the farmer provides an auto-debit mandate authorising the monthly deduction.
Eligible farmers can also opt to use their PM-KISAN benefits for voluntary contributions to PM-KMY by submitting an enrolment-cum-auto-debit mandate.
Family pension provides additional protection
PM-KMY also extends financial protection to the subscriber’s family.
If a subscriber dies after entering the pension phase, the spouse is entitled to a family pension equal to 50 per cent of the subscriber’s pension, amounting to ₹1,500 per month. This benefit is available exclusively to the spouse and applies when the spouse is not already a beneficiary under PM-KMY.
The scheme also provides an option when a subscriber dies before reaching 60. If the beneficiary had been making regular contributions, the spouse can opt to join and continue the scheme by making the prescribed contributions. Alternatively, the spouse can exit the scheme in accordance with the applicable exit and withdrawal provisions.
Who is eligible?
PM-KMY is open to small and marginal farmers with cultivable landholdings of up to two hectares across the country.
Farmers must be between 18 and 40 years of age to enrol. Their names must have appeared in the land records of the respective State or Union Territory as of August 1, 2019.
However, the scheme excludes certain categories to ensure that its benefits are focused on farmers with comparatively limited social-security coverage.
Who cannot join PM-KMY?
Farmers already covered under certain statutory or central social security schemes are excluded. These include subscribers to the National Pension System (NPS), Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), as well as beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan Yojana (PM-SYM) and Pradhan Mantri Laghu Vyapari Maan-dhan Yojana (PM-LVM).
The scheme also excludes institutional landholders and present or former holders of constitutional posts.
Present and former Ministers or State Ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of State Legislative Assemblies or Councils, Mayors of Municipal Corporations and Chairpersons of District Panchayats are not eligible.
Serving and retired officers and employees of Central and State government ministries, departments and field units, Central and State Public Sector Enterprises, attached or autonomous institutions and regular employees of local bodies are also excluded. However, Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS), Class IV and Group D employees are exempt from this exclusion and remain eligible.
Individuals who paid income tax in the last assessment year are also excluded, as are practising professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, chartered accountants and architects registered with their respective professional bodies.
Self-declaration and eligibility verification
Eligibility under PM-KMY is primarily verified through self-declaration by the applicant, with the concerned State or Union Territory Government certifying eligibility based on the declaration.
If an applicant is subsequently found to have provided an incorrect or false declaration, the person becomes ineligible for financial benefits under the scheme. The Central Government’s matching contribution is stopped and the subscriber’s contributions are refunded without interest.
Making enrolment easier for farmers
The scheme provides a paperless enrolment process through the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC).
Farmers seeking enrolment need to carry their Aadhaar card, bank account details and mobile number for OTP verification. At the CSC, the Village Level Entrepreneur verifies the farmer’s details and completes the online registration.
The farmer signs the auto-debit mandate, following which the first contribution is processed digitally. Once registration is completed, the farmer receives a Pension Account Number and pension card.
The enrolment details are then forwarded to LIC, which manages the pension fund and pension payouts. Subsequent contributions are automatically debited from the farmer’s linked bank account.
Farmers can choose to make contributions monthly, quarterly, four-monthly or half-yearly, providing flexibility to align payments with their income cycles.
Looking beyond the years of farming
The seven-year journey of PM-KMY represents an effort to extend social security beyond the years in which farmers actively cultivate their land.
For small and marginal farmers, whose financial resources may be limited and whose livelihoods can depend heavily on agricultural income, a guaranteed pension can provide a measure of stability during old age.
With nearly 25 lakh enrolments recorded by February 2026 and a network extending across the country, PM-KMY has established a nationwide framework for farmers’ old-age protection.
More than an enrolment programme, the scheme seeks to create a pension safety net for those who spend their working lives contributing to India’s food security. As PM-KMY completes seven years, its continued expansion reflects the broader objective of ensuring that farmers can enter their later years with greater financial security, dignity and peace of mind.
