UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will release the 22nd installment of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi tomorrow, providing direct benefit of ₹18,640 crore to 9.32 crore farmers

Q1. Under the exclusion criteria of PM-KISAN, which of the following categories are correctly identified as excluded from the scheme's benefits?

  1. Income-tax payers in the last assessment year.
  2. Professionals such as doctors, engineers and chartered accountants.
  3. Pensioners drawing a monthly pension of ₹10,000 or more, other than Group D / MTS employees.
  4. Marginal farmers holding cultivable land up to two hectares.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. Under PM-KISAN's exclusion criteria, which one of the following correctly defines the category of pensioners who are barred from receiving the benefit?

  • A. All retired pensioners, irrespective of the amount of monthly pension drawn
  • B. Pensioners drawing a monthly pension of ₹10,000 or more, other than Group D / Multi-Tasking Staff
  • C. Only those pensioners who are simultaneously income-tax payers
  • D. Pensioners drawing a monthly pension of ₹15,000 or more

Q3. PM-KISAN was formally launched on 24 February 2019. From which date was the scheme made effective for the purpose of computing the benefit period?

  • A. 1 April 2018
  • B. 1 December 2018
  • C. 24 February 2019
  • D. 1 June 2019

Q4. The PM-KISAN scheme, whose 22nd instalment was released in March 2026, is implemented by which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development
  • B. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
  • C. Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance
  • D. Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

Q5. Approximately how many farmer families received direct benefit under the 22nd instalment of PM-KISAN released in March 2026?

  • A. 8.46 crore
  • B. 9.32 crore
  • C. 11.0 crore
  • D. 14.5 crore

Q6. The cumulative disbursal under PM-KISAN crossed ₹4.27 lakh crore with the 22nd instalment. The funds released under the scheme are borne in which manner?

  • A. Entirely by the Union Government, as it is a Central Sector Scheme
  • B. Shared between the Centre and the States in a 50:50 ratio
  • C. Entirely by the respective State Governments
  • D. By the Centre and the States in a 60:40 ratio

Q7. PM-KISAN is frequently described as one of the world's largest schemes, by number of beneficiaries, of which one of the following types?

  • A. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) based income-support scheme
  • B. Crop insurance scheme
  • C. Minimum Support Price procurement scheme
  • D. Subsidised institutional agricultural credit scheme

Q8. At the release of the 22nd instalment of PM-KISAN, the record foodgrain production of India (2024-25) was cited as approximately how many million tonnes?

  • A. 251 million tonnes
  • B. 315 million tonnes
  • C. 332 million tonnes
  • D. 358 million tonnes

Q9. PM-KISAN is classified as a 'Central Sector Scheme'. Which one of the following best describes a Central Sector Scheme?

  • A. A scheme funded jointly by the Centre and the States in a fixed ratio such as 60:40 and implemented mainly by the States
  • B. A scheme funded entirely by the Union Government and implemented directly by the Centre or its agencies
  • C. A scheme funded entirely by the States but formulated and monitored by the Centre
  • D. A scheme financed through external multilateral assistance routed via the Union Government