PM-Kisan: Centre disburses ₹4.27 lakh crore in 22 installments since inception

1. At a Glance

• PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) is a Central Sector Scheme providing ₹6,000/year in three equal ₹2,000 instalments via DBT to Aadhaar-seeded accounts of land-holding farmers [1][3].
• 100% Centrally funded; flagship income-support intervention launched February 2019 [1][3].
• As of March 2026, ₹4.27 lakh crore disbursed across 22 instalments since inception — examinable headline figure [1].
• Relevant to GS-III (Agriculture, Subsidies, DBT) and GS-II (Welfare schemes, governance).

2. Why in the News

• 24 March 2026 PIB release: Centre announced cumulative disbursement of ₹4.27 lakh crore in 22 instalments since launch [1].
• 22nd instalment released in early 2026 [2].
• 21st instalment released by PM Modi on 19 November 2025 from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, benefiting >9.35 crore farmers (~₹18,000 crore) [1][4].

3. Background & Evolution

• Launched 24 February 2019 at Gorakhpur, UP by PM Modi; made effective retrospectively from 1 December 2018 [3].
• Initially restricted to small & marginal farmers (≤2 ha); June 2019 expanded to all land-holding farmer families subject to exclusions [3].
• Replaced/supplemented earlier state schemes like Telangana's Rythu Bandhu and Odisha's KALIA as a national model [3].
• Aadhaar seeding + e-KYC + PM-Kisan portal progressively tightened beneficiary verification.

4. Core Static Facts

• Type: Central Sector Scheme (100% Union funding) [1].
• Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare [1].
• Benefit: ₹6,000/year in 3 instalments of ₹2,000 every 4 months [1].
• Mode: DBT into Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts [1].
• Cumulative disbursal: >₹4.27 lakh crore in 22 instalments (as of Mar 2026) [1].
• Latest beneficiary count (21st instalment, Nov 2025): >9.35 crore farmers [1].
• Eligibility: Cultivable land-holding farmer family; subject to higher-income exclusions [3].
• Exclusions (illustrative): Institutional landholders; constitutional post holders; serving/former MPs/MLAs/ministers/mayors; serving/retired Central/State Govt officers (Group A/B); income-tax payers; professionals (doctors, CAs, lawyers, engineers) practising; pensioners drawing ≥₹10,000/month [3].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic

• Largest DBT-based farmer income support programme globally; supplements working capital for inputs at sowing [1][3].
• Independent impact evaluations (cited by PIB) report positive effects on farm income, input use, and rural consumption [1].

Administrative / Governance

• Uses JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile); e-KYC mandatory — reduced leakage but excluded farmers with Aadhaar mismatches [1].
• States/UTs verify beneficiaries; Centre disburses — federal coordination challenge (West Bengal joined late in 2021).

Social / Equity

• Covers landed cultivators only — leaves out tenant farmers, sharecroppers, landless agricultural labourers — a recurring equity critique.
• Gender inclusion limited as land titles overwhelmingly male-held.

Fiscal

• Annual outlay ~₹60,000 crore range; counted under revenue expenditure, not capex; no asset creation [1].

Technological

• PM-Kisan portal + mobile app + Face Authentication e-KYC rolled out to streamline verification [2].

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• 24 Feb 2025: 19th instalment released at Bhagalpur, Bihar [2].
• Aug 2025: 20th instalment released [2].
• 19 Nov 2025: 21st instalment released from Coimbatore; >9.35 crore beneficiaries, ~₹18,000 crore disbursed [1][4].
• Early 2026: 22nd instalment released [2].
• 24 Mar 2026: Cumulative disbursal crosses ₹4.27 lakh crore [1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• PM-KISAN is a Central Sector Scheme, not a Centrally Sponsored Scheme [1].
• Launched 24 February 2019; effective from 1 December 2018 [3].
• Implementing ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare [1].
• Annual benefit: ₹6,000 in three ₹2,000 instalments [1].
• Mode of transfer: DBT to Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts [1].
• 22 instalments disbursed cumulatively totalling >₹4.27 lakh crore by Mar 2026 [1].
• 21st instalment: released 19 Nov 2025 from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu [4].
• >9.35 crore farmers benefited from 21st instalment [1].
• Income-tax payers and Group A/B Govt officials are excluded [3].
• Pensioners receiving ≥₹10,000/month are excluded (except Group D/MTS) [3].
• Initially capped at 2-hectare landholding; cap removed June 2019 [3].
• 100% Union-funded; no state share [1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Agriculture — Issues related to direct & indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; e-technology in aid of farmers.
• GS-II: Welfare schemes — Mechanisms, implementation, performance.
• Possible question stems: 1. "PM-KISAN has redefined India's farm support architecture by shifting from price-based to income-based subsidies. Critically evaluate." 2. "Examine the role of DBT and JAM trinity in improving the efficiency of farmer welfare schemes, with reference to PM-KISAN." 3. "Income transfer schemes like PM-KISAN risk excluding the most vulnerable in agriculture. Discuss."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) — crop insurance complement [4].
• Rythu Bandhu (Telangana) & KALIA (Odisha) — state precursors of income support.
• MSP regime & PM-AASHA — price-support contrast.
• Agri-Infrastructure Fund (AIF) — capex-side counterpart.
• PM-KMY (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana) — farmer pension scheme linked to PM-Kisan.
• JAM Trinity & DBT architecture — governance backbone.
• Doubling Farmers' Income (Dalwai Committee) — policy frame.
• Agri Census & landholding data — beneficiary base analytics.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Central Sector vs Centrally Sponsored: PM-KISAN is Central Sector (100% Union funded) — frequently mis-stated.
• Launch vs effective date: Launched Feb 2019 but effective from Dec 2018.
• Landholding cap: Originally 2 ha; scrapped in June 2019 — many aspirants still believe the cap applies.
• Excludes tenant & landless farmers — eligibility is by land ownership, not cultivation.
• Do not confuse with PM-KMY (pension) or PMFBY (insurance).