The central government released the 21st installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) on Friday (September 26). This installment was disbursed in advance only to farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh to provide immediate financial support to farmers affected by floods and landslides in these states. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan released this important installment.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, more than ₹540 crore has been transferred directly to the bank accounts of over 2.7 million farmers. This amount was sent through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Approximately 2.7 lakh women farmers have also benefited from this unprecedented initiative.
Why was the 21st installment of PM-KISAN released ahead of schedule
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that this installment will prove extremely helpful to the affected farmers. He informed that an amount of ₹2,000 has been transferred to each farmer’s account. It is worth noting that the recent devastating floods and landslides in Himachal, Punjab, and Uttarakhand have caused huge losses to farmers. This historic decision has been taken to restore farmers’ confidence and encourage them to resume farming. The government stands firmly with farmers in this time of crisis.
What is the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana was launched in 2019 to provide financial assistance to small and marginal farmers. Under this scheme, each eligible farmer receives ₹6,000 annually. This amount is transferred directly to the farmer’s bank account in three equal installments (₹2,000 each) through DBT.
Eligibility Rules for the Scheme
This scheme benefits every Indian farmer who owns cultivable land. To avail this benefit, farmers must link their Aadhaar number to their bank account. Completing eKYC is also required. If a farmer is an income tax payer, a pensioner, or holds a government/public sector job, they cannot avail of this scheme. This ensures that assistance reaches only the farmers in need. This quick financial assistance will provide an excellent boost to farmers recovering from crop losses and preparing for the next sowing season.