PM-KISAN disburses ₹4.46 lakh crore to 9.44 crore farmers across 23 instalments
Synopsis
Six years in and 23 instalments deep, PM-KISAN has now channelled over ₹4.46 lakh crore directly into farmers' bank accounts — making it one of the largest cash-transfer programmes in the world. With ₹60,000 crore already budgeted for 2026–27 and 9.44 crore beneficiaries on the rolls, the scheme shows no signs of scaling back.
Key Takeaways
PM-KISAN has disbursed over ₹4.46 lakh crore to eligible farmer families since its launch on 24 February 2019 .
The 23rd instalment released ₹18,880 crore to 9.44 crore farmers , including more than 2.18 crore women .
Each eligible family receives ₹6,000 per year in three instalments of ₹2,000 via Aadhaar-linked DBT.
Over 5 lakh Common Service Centres support farmer registration and e-KYC; a September 2024 drive added 30 lakh farmers .
The Union Budget 2026–27 has allocated ₹60,000 crore for the scheme's continuation.
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme has disbursed over ₹4.46 lakh crore to eligible farmer families since its launch on 24 February 2019, according to an official fact-sheet released on Saturday, 20 June. The scheme, which ranks among the world's largest Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) initiatives, reached 9.44 crore farmers — including more than 2.18 crore women — through its 23rd instalment, disbursing approximately ₹18,880 crore in a single tranche.
23rd Instalment Released at Tarakeswar
The 23rd instalment was formally disbursed at Tarakeswar in Hooghly district, West Bengal, on Saturday. Each eligible farmer family receives annual financial support of ₹6,000, paid in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 each, directly into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts via the DBT mechanism. To access benefits, farmers must link their bank accounts with Aadhaar and complete e-KYC verification.
Scale and Reach of PM-KISAN
The scheme targets landholding farmer families with cultivable land, aiming to provide assured income support and reduce dependence on informal credit. According to the official statement, more than 23 per cent of beneficiaries are women, which the government said reflects the scheme's inclusive outreach. Over 5 lakh Common Service Centres have been onboarded to support farmer registration and e-KYC completion.
Notably, more than 1 crore eligible farmers were added during the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, while over 25 lakh farmers were enrolled under the government's 100-day initiative. A targeted drive in September 2024 cleared pending self-registration cases, adding a further 30 lakh farmers to the scheme's coverage.
Budget Allocation and Policy Commitment
Reflecting continued policy emphasis on farmer income security, the Union Budget 2026–27 has allocated ₹60,000 crore for PM-KISAN. The fact-sheet noted that benefits are released only upon seeding of land records in the PM-KISAN portal, ensuring targeted delivery. The scheme is designed to improve crop health and productivity by supplementing farmers' resources for agricultural inputs.
Why PM-KISAN Stands Out
'PM-KISAN stands out as one of the largest Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) initiatives globally. This underscores its significant institutional mechanism for delivering financial support directly to farmers,' the official statement said. This is the 23rd consecutive instalment since the scheme's inception, underscoring its uninterrupted operational continuity over more than six years. With the next budget cycle already provisioned, disbursements are expected to continue through the financial year.
Point of View
But the scheme's real test lies in outcomes rather than outlays. Direct transfers ease immediate liquidity stress for small and marginal farmers, yet India's agrarian distress — rooted in input costs, price volatility, and fragmented landholdings — is not resolved by ₹6,000 a year. The addition of 30 lakh farmers via a single September 2024 drive also raises questions about why these eligible households were excluded for years. The ₹60,000 crore Budget allocation signals political commitment, but policymakers and independent researchers have yet to produce rigorous evidence on whether PM-KISAN meaningfully shifts farmer income trajectories or merely cushions short-term cash flow.
NationPress
20 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PM-KISAN scheme and who is eligible?
PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) is a centrally sponsored scheme launched on 24 February 2019 that provides ₹6,000 per year in direct financial assistance to landholding farmer families with cultivable land. Benefits are disbursed in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 each into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts, subject to e-KYC verification and land record seeding on the PM-KISAN portal.
How much has PM-KISAN disbursed in total?
PM-KISAN has disbursed over ₹4.46 lakh crore to eligible farmer families across 23 instalments since its launch in 2019, according to an official fact-sheet. The 23rd instalment alone transferred approximately ₹18,880 crore to 9.44 crore farmers.
When and where was the 23rd PM-KISAN instalment released?
The 23rd instalment was disbursed on Saturday, 20 June, at Tarakeswar in Hooghly district, West Bengal. Around 9.44 crore eligible farmers, including more than 2.18 crore women, received the funds directly in their bank accounts.
How much has the government budgeted for PM-KISAN in 2026–27?
The Union Budget 2026–27 has allocated ₹60,000 crore for the PM-KISAN scheme, reflecting the government's stated commitment to sustaining farmer income support through the financial year.
How has PM-KISAN expanded its coverage over time?
Coverage has grown through multiple targeted drives: more than 1 crore farmers were added during the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, over 25 lakh were enrolled under the government's 100-day initiative, and a September 2024 drive cleared pending self-registration cases to include an additional 30 lakh farmers. Over 5 lakh Common Service Centres support ongoing registration and e-KYC completion.
