PM-KISAN Scheme Reaches Over 10 Crore Farmers; Govt Adds 25 Lakh New Beneficiaries Under 100-Day Initiative
New Delhi, July 22: The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme has disbursed over ₹3.69 lakh crore to eligible farmers across the country since its launch in February 2019, according to a written reply by Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Ramnath Thakur in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Designed to supplement the financial needs of cultivable land-holding farmers, PM-KISAN provides ₹6,000 annually in three equal instalments, directly credited to Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
As of February 24, 2025, the 19th instalment of the scheme was released, benefitting over 10 crore farmers with a total payout exceeding ₹23,000 crore, the minister stated.
Expanded Outreach and Inclusion Efforts
To ensure maximum coverage, the government has undertaken multiple saturation drives in partnership with state governments. A major drive launched under the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra (VBSY) from November 15, 2023, resulted in the inclusion of over 1 crore new farmers. Under the new government’s 100-day initiative, an additional 25 lakh eligible farmers have been added.
Moreover, a special drive initiated in September 2024 to address pending self-registration cases has led to the approval of over 30 lakh such applications by states and union territories.
Eligibility and Accessibility
The primary eligibility criterion for PM-KISAN is ownership of cultivable land, with certain income-based exclusions. To facilitate self-verification and access to scheme-related services, a dedicated ‘Farmers Corner’ is available on the PM-KISAN portal. This includes features like Know Your Status, instalment tracking, and grievance registration.
Farmers can also visit Common Service Centres (CSCs) to check their beneficiary status and resolve payment issues.
Grievance Redressal and AI Chatbot Support
A robust grievance redressal system has been built into the PM-KISAN portal, enabling timely resolution of complaints by state and district-level officials. Additionally, grievances can be lodged via the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS).
To further streamline support, the ministry has deployed the PM-KISAN AI Chatbot — “Kisan e-Mitra”, which answers queries 24/7 in 11 languages including Hindi, English, Odia, Tamil, Bengali, and more. The chatbot is accessible across web and mobile platforms.
With its growing beneficiary base and technology-enabled services, PM-KISAN continues to be a key pillar of the government’s rural welfare strategy, ensuring income support to millions of farmers across India.
