UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Cabinet approves continuation of the PM-KISAN Scheme from 2026-27 to 2030-31 with a Financial Outlay of Rs.3.15 lakh crore

Q1. With reference to the design of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), consider the following statements: 1. The annual benefit is released in three four-monthly instalments of Rs. 2,000 each. 2. The cost of the scheme is shared between the Union Government and the State Governments in the ratio of 60:40. 3. Payments are credited to Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer mode. 4. As originally notified in February 2019, the benefit was confined to farmer families holding cultivable land up to two hectares. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The annual benefit is released in three four-monthly instalments of Rs. 2,000 each.
  2. The cost of the scheme is shared between the Union Government and the State Governments in the ratio of 60:40.
  3. Payments are credited to Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer mode.
  4. As originally notified in February 2019, the benefit was confined to farmer families holding cultivable land up to two hectares.
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 1 and 2
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q2. Consider the following statements comparing PM-KISAN as originally launched with the scheme as revised by the Union Cabinet in May 2019: 1. The scheme as launched covered only small and marginal farmer families, whereas the revision extended it to all landholding farmer families irrespective of the size of the holding. 2. The revision raised the estimated coverage from about 12.5 crore to about 14.5 crore farmer families. 3. The revision raised the annual assistance per farmer family from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 6,000. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The scheme as launched covered only small and marginal farmer families, whereas the revision extended it to all landholding farmer families irrespective of the size of the holding.
  2. The revision raised the estimated coverage from about 12.5 crore to about 14.5 crore farmer families.
  3. The revision raised the annual assistance per farmer family from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 6,000.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The continuation of PM-KISAN for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31, approved by the Union Cabinet, is operationalised by which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • B. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
  • C. Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development
  • D. Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

Q4. With reference to the Union Cabinet's approval for continuing PM-KISAN, consider the following statements: 1. The approved continuation covers the five financial years 2026-27 to 2030-31. 2. The financial outlay approved for the continuation period is Rs. 3.15 lakh crore. 3. Women farmers constitute about one-half of the beneficiaries currently covered under the scheme. 4. The Union Budget for 2026-27 provided Rs. 60,000 crore for the scheme. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The approved continuation covers the five financial years 2026-27 to 2030-31.
  2. The financial outlay approved for the continuation period is Rs. 3.15 lakh crore.
  3. Women farmers constitute about one-half of the beneficiaries currently covered under the scheme.
  4. The Union Budget for 2026-27 provided Rs. 60,000 crore for the scheme.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding disbursement milestones under PM-KISAN: 1. Cumulative disbursement since launch had crossed Rs. 4.09 lakh crore by the 21st instalment. 2. Cumulative disbursement stood at about Rs. 4.27 lakh crore after 22 instalments. 3. About 9.44 crore farmers received the 23rd instalment. 4. The 23rd instalment was the first under which the number of beneficiaries crossed 10 crore. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Cumulative disbursement since launch had crossed Rs. 4.09 lakh crore by the 21st instalment.
  2. Cumulative disbursement stood at about Rs. 4.27 lakh crore after 22 instalments.
  3. About 9.44 crore farmers received the 23rd instalment.
  4. The 23rd instalment was the first under which the number of beneficiaries crossed 10 crore.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q6. Consider the following pairs relating to PM-KISAN instalment events: 1. 22nd instalment — released from Guwahati, Assam 2. 23rd instalment — released from Tarakeswar in Hooghly district, West Bengal 3. Launch of the scheme and its first instalment — Bhagalpur, Bihar 4. 18th instalment — Uttar Pradesh accounted for the largest number of beneficiaries among the States Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. 22nd instalment — released from Guwahati, Assam
  2. 23rd instalment — released from Tarakeswar in Hooghly district, West Bengal
  3. Launch of the scheme and its first instalment — Bhagalpur, Bihar
  4. 18th instalment — Uttar Pradesh accounted for the largest number of beneficiaries among the States
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. Under the exclusion criteria of PM-KISAN, retired or superannuated pensioners are kept out of the scheme if their monthly pension is at least how much?

  • A. Rs. 5,000
  • B. Rs. 10,000
  • C. Rs. 15,000
  • D. Rs. 25,000

Q8. For the purposes of PM-KISAN, the expression 'landholding farmer family' means which one of the following?

  • A. A family of husband, wife and minor children owning cultivable land not exceeding two hectares as per the land records of the State or UT
  • B. Any person above eighteen years of age engaged in cultivation and registered on the scheme portal, irrespective of ownership of land
  • C. A family of husband, wife and dependants of any age that cultivates land, whether owned or leased in, as certified by the Gram Panchayat
  • D. A family comprising husband, wife and minor children that owns cultivable land as per the land records of the concerned State or UT

Q9. Consider the following statements about farmer income-support schemes in India: 1. Rythu Bandhu of Telangana gives assistance on a per-acre basis, its rate having been raised to Rs. 10,000 per acre per annum. 2. KALIA of Odisha extends support to landless agricultural labourers and share croppers besides small and marginal farmers. 3. Unlike these State schemes, PM-KISAN pays a flat amount per farmer family regardless of the extent of land held. 4. Being a national scheme, PM-KISAN necessarily replaces all State-level farmer income-support schemes wherever it operates. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Rythu Bandhu of Telangana gives assistance on a per-acre basis, its rate having been raised to Rs. 10,000 per acre per annum.
  2. KALIA of Odisha extends support to landless agricultural labourers and share croppers besides small and marginal farmers.
  3. Unlike these State schemes, PM-KISAN pays a flat amount per farmer family regardless of the extent of land held.
  4. Being a national scheme, PM-KISAN necessarily replaces all State-level farmer income-support schemes wherever it operates.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. The KALIA scheme of Odisha was designed to provide financial support to approximately how many farmer families?

  • A. About 25 lakh
  • B. About 50 lakh
  • C. About 75 lakh
  • D. About 1.25 crore

Q11. Consider the following components of the delivery architecture of PM-KISAN: 1. Public Financial Management System — used for routing benefit transfers to beneficiary accounts 2. Unique Identification Authority of India — Aadhaar-based authentication of beneficiaries, including face-authentication e-KYC 3. Kisan e-Mitra — a voice-based artificial intelligence chatbot answering farmers' queries in several languages 4. Income Tax Department databases — integrated with the scheme portal to help screen out ineligible beneficiaries Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Public Financial Management System — used for routing benefit transfers to beneficiary accounts
  2. Unique Identification Authority of India — Aadhaar-based authentication of beneficiaries, including face-authentication e-KYC
  3. Kisan e-Mitra — a voice-based artificial intelligence chatbot answering farmers' queries in several languages
  4. Income Tax Department databases — integrated with the scheme portal to help screen out ineligible beneficiaries
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4