The Government of India has released more than ₹18,880 crore under the 23rd instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme, encompassing over 9.44 crore farmers nationwide. It was announced on June 20, 2026, at an event in Hooghly district, West Bengal on June 20, 2026 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
More than 2.18 crore women farmers were among the beneficiaries, and over one crore farmers joined the event virtually from across the country. The day also marked PM-KISAN Utsav Diwas, celebrating the latest round of what has become one of the world’s largest Direct Benefit Transfer programmes.
Over ₹4.46 lakh crore transferred since launch
PM-KISAN launched on February 24, 2019, providing direct income support to landholding farmer families with cultivable land. Eligible families get ₹6,000 a year, split into three instalments of ₹2,000, paid directly into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
With this 23rd instalment, total transfers under the scheme have crossed ₹4.46 lakh crore since it began. The Union Budget 2026-27 set aside ₹60,000 crore for PM-KISAN, underlining the government’s continued focus on farmer income support.
Direct transfers cut out the middlemen
The scheme relies on Direct Benefit Transfer to move money straight into farmers’ bank accounts, cutting out intermediaries and reducing both delays and leakage. To qualify, farmers need Aadhaar seeding, a linked bank account, and completed e-KYC verification.
The whole registration and payment process runs digitally, tying together the PM-KISAN portal, Aadhaar databases, the Public Financial Management System, sponsor banks and the National Payments Corporation of India.
New agricultural initiatives for West Bengal
Alongside the instalment release, the government rolled out several agricultural initiatives for West Bengal aimed at boosting productivity and managing risk.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme, roughly 1.10 crore farmers across 30 lakh hectares are set to get crop insurance coverage worth ₹28,140 crore.
The Digital Agriculture Mission will extend AgriStack across the state, making it easier for farmers to access credit, insurance, procurement and government schemes through digital platforms.
The National Mission on Natural Farming will set up 346 natural farming clusters spanning 17,300 hectares, reaching around 43,250 farmers with training in chemical-free farming methods. The government also launched the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana in four districts of West Bengal to lift farm productivity, encourage crop diversification and strengthen irrigation and rural infrastructure.
Study points to gains in farm income
A 2022 study by the Agro-Economic Research Centre at the University of Allahabad found that PM-KISAN raised agricultural productivity and farm incomes in Uttar Pradesh. Beneficiary farmers saw paddy yields 3.08% higher and wheat yields 1.93% higher than non-beneficiaries, while overall household farm income rose by nearly 9.85%.
The study also found that most farmers put the funds toward seeds, fertilisers and other cultivation costs, which cut their reliance on informal credit.
Expanding coverage through digital and field outreach
The government has pushed several efforts to widen enrolment. More than five lakh Common Service Centres now help farmers register and complete e-KYC, alongside large-scale saturation drives to expand coverage.
The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra added more than one crore eligible farmers as beneficiaries. A further 25 lakh farmers joined during the government’s 100-day programme, and a special drive in September 2024 brought in over 30 lakh farmers by clearing a backlog of pending self-registration applications.
AI-powered support through Kisan-eMitra
To improve outreach and grievance resolution, the government launched Kisan-eMitra, an AI chatbot built into the PM-KISAN ecosystem. Developed with EkStep Foundation and BHASHINI, it answers questions on payments, eligibility, registration and application status in 11 Indian languages, through both text and voice.
Farmers can also use the PM-KISAN mobile app for self-registration, payment tracking and face-authentication-based e-KYC.
Key Takeaway: PM-KISAN has grown into one of the world’s largest income-support programmes run through Direct Benefit Transfer, with women making up more than 23% of beneficiaries. By pairing direct income support with digital tools and related agricultural initiatives, the scheme keeps playing a central role in lifting farm incomes and supporting India’s agricultural sector.
MCQs:
1. PM-KISAN was launched in:
A. January 26, 2018
B. February 24, 2019
C. August 15, 2019
D. April 1, 2020
2. Under PM-KISAN, eligible farmer families receive:
A. ₹5,000 annually in two instalments
B. ₹6,000 annually in three instalments
C. ₹8,000 annually in four instalments
D. ₹10,000 annually in two instalments
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