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Pradhan Mantri Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) – A Comprehensive Guide for Farmers

Objective of the Scheme

The PM-KISAN Scheme aims to provide financial assistance to landholding farmer families. This support helps farmers procure necessary inputs to maintain crop health, ensure appropriate yields, and meet their household needs. Under the scheme, farmers will receive ₹6,000 annually, which is disbursed in three equal installments of ₹2,000 each, paid every four months.

Benefits of the Scheme

  1. Financial Benefit: ₹6,000 per year for each family.
  2. The amount is disbursed in three equal installments of ₹2,000 every four months.
  3. The amount is transferred directly to the bank accounts of eligible farmers under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this scheme, a farmer must meet the following requirements:

  1. The farmer must be part of a landholding family, with cultivable land in their name.
  2. The scheme is available to all landholding farmer families (irrespective of the size of the landholding).

Exclusions:

Certain categories of beneficiaries are not eligible for the scheme, including:

  1. Institutional landholders:Institutional landholders refer to organizations, entities, or institutions that own land, rather than individual farmers or families. These landholders typically include:
    1. Corporate Entities: Companies or industries that own agricultural or non-agricultural land for business or commercial purposes.
    2. Government Bodies: Various government organizations or departments that own land for public services, administrative purposes, or other official use.
    3. Cooperative Societies: Farming cooperatives, societies, or other community-based organizations that own land.
    4. Religious Institutions: Temples, churches, mosques, or other religious bodies that own land for their activities or operations.
    5. Educational Institutions: Schools, universities, or other educational bodies owning land for campuses, hostels, etc.
    Under the PM-KISAN scheme, institutional landholders are excluded from receiving benefits, as the scheme is intended for individual landholding farmer families and not for corporate or institutional entities. The scheme is specifically designed to aid small and marginal farmers, so institutional landholders do not qualify for the financial assistance provided by the government.
  2. Farmer Families: with members who belong to any of the following categories:
    1. Former or present holders of constitutional posts (e.g., Presidents, Governors).
    2. Former or present Ministers, MPs (Members of Parliament), MLAs (Members of Legislative Assemblies), former Mayors, and Chairs of District Panchayats.
    3. Serving or retired officers/ employees of the central/state government, PSUs, or local bodies (excluding Multi-Tasking Staff/Class IV/Group D employees).
    4. Superannuated pensioners who receive a pension of ₹10,000 or more.
    5. Professionals (Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, etc.) who are registered with professional bodies and practice their profession.
    6. Non-resident Indians (NRIs) as per the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Application Process

The process to apply for PM-KISAN is online and can be completed through Common Service Centres (CSCs). Follow these steps to apply:

    Steps to Apply:
  1. Documents Required
    1. Aadhaar Card.
    2. Landholding Papers.
    3. A Savings Bank Account linked with Aadhaar.
  2. Farmer Registration:
    1. Visit the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC).
    2. The VLE (Village Level Entrepreneur) will fill in the farmer's details, including:
      • - State, District, Subdistrict, Block, and Village.
      • - Aadhaar number, Name, Bank details, Land Registration ID, Date of Birth (as per Aadhaar).
      • - Landholding details such as Survey Number, Khasra Number, and Area.
  3. Documents Upload:
    • - Upload Aadhaar, Landholding, and Bank Passbook details.
  4. Self-Declaration:
    • - Agree to the terms and save the application.
  5. Payment:
    • - After completing the application form, pay the registration fee through the CSC ID.
  6. Check Status:
    • - The status of your application can be checked through the Aadhaar Number on the PM-KISAN portal.

eKYC Process

To ensure that the scheme benefits the correct farmer families, eKYC (electronic Know Your Customer) is mandatory. Farmers can complete their eKYC using one of the following methods either by themselves or by visiting the Common Service Centres (CSCs). However it is recommended that the farmers complete their applications through a CSC as it ensures the smooth submitting of the applications.

  1. OTP-based eKYC:
    1. Available on the PM-KISAN Portal or Mobile App.
    2. Requires an Aadhaar-linked active mobile number.
    3. Visit the PM-KISAN portal, enter your Aadhaar number, and verify using OTP.
  2. Biometric-based eKYC:
    1. Available at Common Service Centres (CSCs) and State Seva Kendras.
    2. Requires the farmer to visit a nearby CSC/SSK with their Aadhaar Card and mobile number for biometric authentication.
  3. Face-authentication-based eKYC:
    1. Available on the PM-KISAN mobile app.
    2. Requires the farmer to download the PM-KISAN mobile app and complete the eKYC using their face.

State-Specific Guidelines

  1. Manipur: Farmers may submit a certificate issued by the Village authority, verified by the Sub-Divisional Officers, for landholding proof.
  2. Nagaland: The village council’s certificate of landholding, verified by district authorities, will be accepted.
  3. Jharkhand: A lineage certificate (Vanshawali) will be required for landholding verification.

Important Notes

  1. Verification of Landholding: In some states, such as Nagaland and Manipur, the landholding verification may involve additional steps or certificates from local authorities.
  2. Exclusions: Any farmer family with members from the excluded categories, such as those in government service or with high income, will not be eligible.
  3. Farmers are requested to visit their nearest Common Service Centres (CSCs)for a more comprehensive insight in this scheme and to verify all the information about the same.

FAQs

  1. Question: Who can benefit from the scheme?
    Answer:     The scheme is available to all landholding farmer families, regardless of the size of their landholding.
  2. Question: Will farmers owning more than 2 hectares of land benefit?
    Answer:     Yes, all landholding farmers are eligible for this scheme, even those owning more than 2 hectares.
  3. Question: How often will the benefit be given?
    Answer:     The benefit is given three times a year, with each installment of ₹2,000 being released every four months.
  4. Question: If a person owns land but does not cultivate it, are they eligible for the PM-KISAN Scheme?
    Answer:     No, a person who owns land but is not actively cultivating it is not eligible for the PM-KISAN Scheme. The scheme is specifically designed for landholding farmer families who are actively engaged in cultivating the land for agricultural purposes. To qualify, the family must be involved in farming activities such as growing crops or other agricultural work on the land.

For more details and to apply, visit the official PM-KISAN Portal: PM-KISAN Portal