Today marks a significant event for Indian farmers as the Centre releases the 19th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme. The funds will be disbursed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhagalpur, Bihar, on February 24. This scheme, launched on December 1, 2018, is designed to provide direct financial support to landholding farmer families.
So, who exactly is eligible for this instalment, and how can one verify their status? Here’s everything you need to know.
What is PM-Kisan and how does it work?
PM-Kisan is a government initiative that offers financial aid to farmers. Eligible farmers receive Rs 6,000 annually, split into three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 every four months. These funds are directly credited to the bank accounts of registered beneficiaries.
The key objective of the PM-Kisan scheme is to ease the financial burden on small-scale farmers, thereby ensuring they have the resources to improve productivity and sustain their farming practices. So far, more than 110 million farmers have benefited from the scheme.
Eligibility criteria for the PM-Kisan scheme
To qualify for the PM-Kisan benefits, a farmer’s family must be landholding, which means the individual or family must own agricultural land. The family typically includes the husband, wife, and minor children. However, eligibility is contingent on completion of the eKYC process.
Farmers must complete their eKYC verification through one of the following methods:
- OTP-based eKYC: Available on the PM-Kisan portal and mobile app.
- Biometric-based eKYC: Conducted at Common Service Centres (CSCs) or State Seva Kendras (SSKs).
- Face authentication-based eKYC: Available via the PM-Kisan Mobile App.
How to check beneficiary status?
Farmers can verify their eligibility and check the status of their payment through these simple steps:
- Visit the official PM-Kisan website.
- Navigate to the ‘Beneficiary Status’ section.
- Enter either your Aadhaar number or account number.
- Click on “Get Data” to see your payment status.
This ensures transparency and helps farmers confirm if they are eligible for the 19th instalment.
Ineligible categories for PM-Kisan benefits
While the scheme has been highly beneficial for many, certain individuals and categories of farmers are excluded from the eligibility list. These include:
- Institutional landholders
- Current and former MPs, MLAs, Mayors, and Ministers
- Government employees, except for Group D/Multi-Tasking Staff
- Retired pensioners receiving Rs 10,000 or more per month
- Income taxpayers from the previous assessment year
What happens if a farmer is ineligible?
Farmers who no longer meet the criteria for the PM-Kisan benefits can voluntarily surrender their entitlement. To do so, they need to:
- Visit the PM-Kisan website.
- Click on ‘Voluntary Surrender of PM-Kisan Benefits.’
- Enter their registration number, captcha, and request an OTP.
- Authenticate with the OTP and confirm the surrender.
Once surrendered, the farmer will be removed from the PM-Kisan list and will not receive future instalments.
What does the 19th instalment mean for farmers?
The 19th instalment represents a crucial financial lifeline for many farmers, especially those facing hardships due to economic pressures or natural disasters. As PM Modi’s visit to Bihar takes place today, the government’s commitment to supporting rural India remains clear.