The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a total financial outlay of ₹3.15 lakh crore. This decision reinforces the government's commitment to farmer prosperity as foundational to national prosperity.
Under the PM-KISAN Scheme, launched in February 2019, eligible landholding farmer families receive financial assistance of ₹6,000 per year transferred directly into their bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in three equal instalments. The scheme utilizes Aadhaar authentication and digital verification systems to ensure transparency and efficiency.
Key achievements include the transfer of more than ₹4.47 lakh crore directly to farmers' bank accounts through 23 instalments. The 23rd instalment alone benefited over 9.49 crore farmers with the release of over ₹18,984 crore. During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than ₹1.71 lakh crore was disbursed to provide financial assistance to farmers. Women farmers have received more than ₹1.06 lakh crore under the scheme, with nearly one out of every four beneficiaries being a woman farmer.
An independent evaluation by the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) of NITI Aayog confirmed the scheme's positive impact, showing that more than 92% of beneficiaries utilized the assistance for agricultural activities and investment, while approximately 85% reported improved agricultural income and reduced dependence on informal credit.
The period from 2020-21 to 2025-26 saw significant agricultural growth with area under cultivation increasing by approximately 9.65%, productivity by approximately 10.53%, and total foodgrain production by approximately 21.18%, which the document attributes to the comprehensive support provided to farmers under PM-KISAN.