Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Saturday, 20 June 2026, attended virtually as Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 23rd instalment of the PM Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, disbursing Rs 18,880 crore directly into the bank accounts of 9.44 crore farmers across India, including lakhs of beneficiaries in Tripura. The Prime Minister launched the instalment from West Bengal, marking another tranche under the flagship direct-benefit scheme for the farming community.

Context

Dr. Saha joined the event virtually from the Tripura State Agriculture Research Station located at Arundhutinagar, Agartala. In his post on X, he described the occasion as historic, writing — 'আজ আগরতলার অরুন্ধতীনগরে অবস্থিত ত্রিপুরা স্টেট এগ্রিকালচার রিসার্চ স্টেশন থেকে ভার্চুয়াল মাধ্যমে এই ঐতিহাসিক কর্মসূচির সাক্ষী হতে পেরে আমি অত্যন্ত আনন্দিত ও গর্বিত' ['I am extremely happy and proud to have witnessed this historic programme virtually from the Tripura State Agriculture Research Station at Arundhutinagar, Agartala']. The Chief Minister noted that the funds reached farmers described as the country's 'annadata' — the providers of food.

Policy Backdrop

PM-KISAN was launched by the central government in February 2019 as a direct income-support scheme for landholding farmer families, providing Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each, transferred directly to beneficiary bank accounts under the Direct Benefit Transfer framework. The scheme is part of the central government's broader strategy to eliminate leakages in welfare delivery by routing funds straight to recipients, bypassing intermediaries. Northeastern states, including Tripura, have been integrated into the scheme with state-level monitoring through agriculture departments and research stations.

Dr. Saha underscored this commitment in his post, stating that the central government under Prime Minister Modi's leadership has been 'working tirelessly for the welfare of farmers and the overall development of the agriculture sector,' and that PM-KISAN stands as 'a shining example of that pledge.'

Stakeholders and Impact

The 23rd instalment release of Rs 18,880 crore benefits 9.44 crore farmers nationwide, with lakhs of farmers in Tripura among the recipients. Small and marginal farmers — who form the backbone of India's agricultural economy — are the primary beneficiaries, with the direct transfer aimed at providing financial security and reducing dependence on informal credit. The Tripura State Agriculture Research Station served as the state's nodal point for the event, reflecting the role of state agriculture institutions in coordinating the scheme's implementation at the grassroots level.

Dr. Saha noted in his post that this initiative plays 'an important role in ensuring financial security for farmers, making them self-reliant, and strengthening the country's agricultural economy.'

What's Next

With the 23rd instalment now disbursed, the next scheduled tranche under PM-KISAN will be watched by farmer groups and state agriculture departments for timely release. State-level utilisation and beneficiary verification reports are expected to be reviewed by the Tripura agriculture department in the coming weeks. The consistent pace of instalment releases signals the central government's intent to maintain uninterrupted income support ahead of the upcoming kharif season.