The Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand announced on Saturday, 20 June 2026 that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a state-level event at Himalaya Saanskritik Kendra, Garhi Cantt, Dehradun, marking the release of the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on the occasion of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Utsav Diwas.

Context

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the instalment virtually from West Bengal, transferring funds via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism to farmers across the country. CM Dhami watched the virtual broadcast of the disbursement at the Dehradun event alongside Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal, Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, MLA Savita Kapoor, and a large number of farmers and agriculture-sector representatives from across the state.

The Chief Minister congratulated all farmers of Uttarakhand — 'annadata bhai-behnon' (provider brothers and sisters) — on the release of the instalment, calling the occasion 'an important step towards the honour, prosperity and empowerment of farmers.'

Policy Backdrop

Launched in February 2019, PM-KISAN provides eligible landholding farmer families a direct income support of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments, credited directly to bank accounts without intermediaries. CM Dhami credited Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan alongside PM Modi for the scheme's transparent delivery.

According to the Chief Minister, approximately 10 crore farmers across the country received a combined Rs 18,880 crore via DBT in this disbursement. Within Uttarakhand, more than 8 lakh farmers received over Rs 159 crore in this instalment alone. He noted that beneficiary numbers in the state have more than doubled since the scheme's launch — from roughly 4 lakh in 2019 to over 8 lakh today — which he described as a sign of growing trust in both the central and state governments.

CM Dhami also highlighted complementary central schemes: the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (launched 2016) for crop-loss coverage against natural calamities, and the Soil Health Card scheme (launched 2015) to help farmers improve soil quality and boost yields.

Stakeholders and Impact

The Uttarakhand government has announced that canal irrigation will be made fully free of charge for farmers in the state. Additionally, more than 350 modern polyhouses have been constructed with an investment of approximately Rs 115 crore, aimed at improving productivity and farm income for horticulture growers.

A Rs 1,000 crore 'Uttarakhand Climate Responsive Rain-Fed Farming Project' has been approved to protect farming in the state from the adverse effects of changing weather patterns. New sector-specific policies — including an apple policy, kiwi policy, dragon fruit policy, and a State Millet Mission — have been introduced to diversify farm income. The 'Mahak Kranti' policy has been launched to position Uttarakhand as a leader in aromatic crop farming.

The 'House of Himalayas' brand is being used to give local agricultural products and millets national and international visibility. CM Dhami claimed that due to 'clear policy and honest intent,' Uttarakhand has achieved first rank in the country in farm income growth.

What's Next

CM Dhami called on Uttarakhand's farmers to combine traditional farming with modern techniques, scientific agricultural practices, and the full range of government welfare schemes to contribute to the goal of a 'Viksit Uttarakhand' (Developed Uttarakhand). The implementation of the Rs 1,000 crore climate-resilient farming project and the rollout of the new horticulture and millet policies will be closely watched as the state seeks to sustain its gains in farmer income.