PM KISAN extended 5 years: Latehar farmers celebrate, urge higher instalments
Synopsis
The Union Cabinet's five-year extension of PM-KISAN to 2030-31 has drawn visible relief from farmers in Jharkhand's Latehar district, who say the ₹6,000 annual transfer has meaningfully cut their dependence on moneylenders. But with the ₹2,000 instalment unchanged since 2019, some beneficiaries are already calling for a revision to keep pace with rising input costs.
Key Takeaways
The Union Cabinet approved a five-year extension of PM-KISAN , covering the period 2026-27 to 2030-31 .
Eligible farmers continue to receive ₹6,000 annually in three instalments of ₹2,000 each , credited directly to bank accounts.
Hundreds of farmers in Latehar, Jharkhand celebrated the extension on 2 August .
Farmer Shashi Bhushan Pathak called for raising the instalment from ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 and better fertiliser price controls.
Beneficiaries say the scheme has reduced dependence on moneylenders during sowing season for crops including paddy, wheat, maize, and mustard .
Hundreds of farmers in Jharkhand's Latehar district celebrated on 2 August after the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a five-year extension of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, pushing its coverage from 2026-27 through 2030-31. The scheme, which transfers ₹6,000 annually in three equal instalments directly into farmers' bank accounts, remains one of the Centre's most far-reaching agricultural support programmes.
What the Extension Means for Farmers
Under PM-KISAN, eligible farmers receive ₹2,000 per instalment, credited at the start of each crop cycle to cover seeds, fertilisers, and related inputs. The five-year extension guarantees this support through 2030-31, offering farmers a longer planning horizon and reducing their reliance on informal credit markets.
Latehar farmer Shashi Bhushan Pathak welcomed the move. 'It is an excellent development for farmers. This has liberated farmers who used to rely on loans for cultivation; they no longer need to borrow for fertilisers and seeds, as the funds are available on time,' he said. Pathak also called for raising the instalment amount from ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 and urged better regulation of fertiliser availability and pricing.
Breaking Free from Moneylenders
For farmers in districts like Latehar — where access to formal credit has historically been limited — the timing of PM-KISAN transfers is as important as the amount itself. Farmer Shyam Kumar recalled how the sowing season routinely pushed villagers into debt. 'The money received under PM KISAN allows us to purchase seeds for paddy, wheat, and potatoes,' he said, adding his thanks to Prime Minister Modi for the extension.
Another beneficiary, farmer Baidyanath, said the funds directly support cultivation of paddy, maize, pigeon pea (arhar), and mustard, as well as potato planting. 'Everyone is happy with it, and farmers are benefiting greatly,' he stated.
Scheme at a Glance
Launched in 2019, PM-KISAN provides ₹6,000 per year per eligible farm household in three instalments of ₹2,000 each, transferred directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts. The scheme targets small and marginal farmers to help them meet input costs at the beginning of every crop cycle. The Cabinet's approval of the five-year extension is the most significant renewal since the scheme's launch.
What Comes Next
While the extension has been broadly welcomed, farmers like Pathak have flagged that the ₹2,000 instalment — unchanged since the scheme's inception — has not kept pace with rising input costs. Calls for a revision in the transfer amount are likely to grow louder as the government rolls out implementation guidelines for the extended period. The Centre has not yet announced any revision to the instalment quantum.
Point of View
But the more telling detail is what was not announced: a revision to the ₹2,000 instalment, which has remained frozen since 2019 even as fertiliser and seed costs have climbed. The scheme has demonstrably reduced informal borrowing in underbanked districts like Latehar, but its real purchasing power has eroded. A transfer that was meaningful in 2019 buys less in 2025. Extending the scheme without indexing the amount to input inflation risks turning a welfare win into a nominal gesture.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PM-KISAN scheme and what has been extended?
PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) is a Central government scheme that provides ₹6,000 per year to eligible farm households in three instalments of ₹2,000 each, transferred directly to bank accounts. The Union Cabinet has approved a five-year extension of the scheme, running from 2026-27 through 2030-31.
Why are Jharkhand farmers celebrating the PM-KISAN extension?
Farmers in Latehar, Jharkhand say the ₹6,000 annual transfer helps them buy seeds and fertilisers at the start of each crop cycle, reducing their dependence on moneylenders. The five-year extension guarantees this support through 2030-31, giving farmers a longer financial planning horizon.
Who approved the PM-KISAN extension?
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the five-year extension of the PM-KISAN scheme. The decision was welcomed by farmer groups across the country.
What changes have farmers requested alongside the extension?
Latehar farmer Shashi Bhushan Pathak has called for increasing the instalment amount from ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 and for stricter government control over fertiliser availability and pricing. The Centre has not yet announced any revision to the transfer amount.
Which crops do Jharkhand farmers use PM-KISAN funds for?
Farmers in Latehar district say they use the PM-KISAN transfers to purchase seeds and inputs for paddy, wheat, potatoes, maize, pigeon pea (arhar), and mustard cultivation.
