Summary of this article
Government not considering doubling PM Kisan support.
Committee’s hike recommendation still under review.
Farmer ID mandatory only in select states.
The debate over the annual payout under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme has finally taken a turn. After questions resurface repeatedly in parliamentary sessions, there is a need for clarity on the matter. A Parliamentary Standing Committee had recommended in December 2024 that the current entitlement be raised to a sum of Rs 12,000, arguing that the current amount no longer serves the rising cultivation costs. However, the government has stated that this proposal is not yet accepted.
This question was raised in the Rajya Sabha by MP Samirul Islam on December 12, 2025. Responding to his question, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Ramnath Thakur answered that the government is not considering any move to double the payout currently. This is all the confirmation so far that dispels any speculation of raising the assistance amount. Though one thing is clear, the recommendation is under review and indicates that the government is not planning any financial support expansion at the moment.
Islam also asked for clarity on another operational shift: whether beneficiaries have received a formal ID to avail the PM Kisan benefits. Thakur elaborated that the requirement is not universal. The farmer ID is only mandatory in the 14 states where the government has already begun creating a farmer registry for the PM Kisan benefits. The registration is designed to streamline verification. remove duplications and align the farmer database.
For states where the registry is pending, Thakur has made it clear that farmers can still register without having a formal farmer ID. He even put on record that many farmers from the 14 states haven't registered themselves, even if they formally can now. This highlights how big an administrative task this process is going to be. He also urged farmers to get themselves registered to avail the benefits of PM Kisan.
The PM Kisan Scheme remains central to the government's welfare strategy. Launched in February 2019, this scheme provides income support to farmers with cultivable landholdings.
The aim is to offer a benefit of Rs 6,000 as a financial safety net to help them manage extra agricultural expenses.
Farmer groups have repeatedly called for an increase in the amount provided for assistance. The committee's recommendation to raise the amount to Rs 12,000 has raised expectations of the beneficiaries. But the government's firm statement gives clarity on the situation.
