New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, approved the continuation of the flagship Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme for another five-year period from 2026-27 to 2030-31. The extension comes with a substantial total financial outlay of Rs 3.15 lakh crore aimed at delivering continuous income support to landholding farmer families across the country. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that the initiative reinforces the government’s core policy principle that agricultural prosperity serves as the cornerstone of national development.
First launched in February 2019, PM-KISAN provides eligible farmers with annual financial assistance of Rs 6,000 distributed in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000. These periodic disbursements align directly with critical stages of the crop cycle—including Kharif sowing, harvest, and Rabi preparations—allowing farmers to make timely investments in seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation. The entire allocation is routed directly into verified bank accounts through Aadhaar-authenticated Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) systems. Since its inception, the program has disbursed over Rs 4.47 lakh crore across 23 instalments, with women representing nearly one in four beneficiaries.
According to impact evaluations conducted by NITI Aayog’s Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office, over 92 per cent of beneficiaries utilized the direct financial support for core agricultural operations, while 85 per cent reported a noticeable reduction in their reliance on informal debt networks. Officials emphasized that the scheme’s technological integration has set a high standard for transparency and efficiency within Digital India initiatives. The ongoing financial backstop is expected to further enhance productivity, safeguard against agricultural risks, and bolster the rural economy.
