Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil participated virtually from Surat in a national programme convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, sharing a glimpse of the moment on Sunday, 21 June 2026.

In his post, Minister Paatil wrote: 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) yojana ke antargat maanniya Pradhan Mantri Shri Narendra Modi ji ke rashtriya karyakram se Surat mein virtual madhyam se sahbhagita ki us samay ki jhalak.' — a reflection on his virtual participation from Surat in Prime Minister Modi's national programme under the PM-KISAN scheme.

Context

PM-KISAN is a central sector scheme that provides direct income support of Rs 6,000 per year, disbursed in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each, to eligible landholding farmer families across India. The scheme was launched in December 2018, with the first instalment released in February 2019, and has since become one of the government's flagship direct benefit transfer programmes for the agricultural sector.

National programme events under PM-KISAN typically involve the Prime Minister releasing a fresh instalment to crores of beneficiaries simultaneously, with ministers and party leaders joining from their respective constituencies or state capitals to demonstrate pan-India reach.

Policy Backdrop

Direct benefit transfers to farmers have been a consistent policy instrument of successive central governments, with PM-KISAN representing one of the largest such programmes by beneficiary count. The scheme targets small and marginal farmers, providing assured income support independent of crop cycles or market conditions.

Virtual participation by Union ministers in national scheme launches has become a standard practice, allowing simultaneous state-level engagement without requiring ministers to be physically present at the central venue. C. R. Paatil, who previously served as Gujarat BJP state president, joined from Surat — a major city in Gujarat — reflecting the party's emphasis on visible ground-level outreach in the state.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of PM-KISAN are small and marginal farmers across India who hold landholding rights. The income support of Rs 6,000 annually is intended to supplement household income and reduce dependence on informal credit for agricultural inputs.

Gujarat, where Minister Paatil has deep political roots, has a significant agricultural community, and events such as this national programme serve both a policy and an outreach function for the ruling party ahead of any state-level engagements.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the schedule of upcoming PM-KISAN instalment releases and any state-level review meetings that the Agriculture Ministry may convene to assess scheme penetration and beneficiary verification. Cross-ministerial participation, as seen with the Jal Shakti Ministry's involvement, signals continued coordination within the BJP-led central government on farmer welfare messaging.