Summary of this article
Farmers receive Rs 6,000 yearly under PM Kisan scheme.
Registration can be done online or at service centres.
eKYC is mandatory to continue receiving instalment benefits.
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme was introduced in February 2019 for the purpose of extending direct income support to farmers possessing land. Each eligible farmer is given Rs 6,000 annually, in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000. The money is directly deposited into their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode to ensure transparency and prevent middlemen.
Since its introduction, the scheme has dispensed 20 instalments. In the 19th instalment, over Rs 22,000 crore was credited in February 2024 to more than 98 million farmers. The 20th instalment, amounting to approximately Rs 20,500 crore, was announced in August 2024, but credited with a slight delay.
Eligibility for PM Kisan
This scheme is intended for landholding farm families whose ownership records are verified by the state governments. Tenant farmers and those with no cultivable land records are excluded. The beneficiaries should possess an Aadhaar card and Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
First-time Registration Process
Farmers who are registering for the first time can register both online or offline.
1. Offline Registration: Farmers will need to visit the Common Service Centres (CSCs), State Seva Kendras (SSKs), or agriculture department offices. They have to bring their Aadhaar card, bank passbook, and land records. The centre operator will help fill the application. Applications are authenticated by state authorities prior to approval of benefits.
2. Online Registration: Here is the step-wise process to register online for the scheme
Go to the official PM-KISAN portal or enter (https://pmkisan.gov.in/).
Select 'New Farmer Registration'
Enter your Aadhaar number and confirm with the OTP received on your registered mobile.
Enter details, such as name, gender, address, bank account, landholding records, etc. when asked.
Upload proof of land ownership and Aadhaar.
Save the application; note down the registration number for future log-in.
Role of eKYC for Existing Beneficiaries
For those registered individuals, it is mandatory to do eKYC to keep receiving instalments. Aadhaar-based eKYC guarantees that funds reach eligible beneficiaries and averts duplication. There are three modes of eKYC: OTP-based, biometric, and face-authentication.
OTP-Based eKYC:
Log in to the PM-KISAN portal and choose the 'e-KYC' option.
Fill in Aadhaar details.
Provide the OTP received on the Aadhaar-linked mobile number to finish the procedure.
Biometric-Based eKYC:
Go to the nearest CSC or SSK with Aadhaar card and Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
The operator will perform biometric authentication based on Aadhaar data.
There is a charge of Rs 15 for the service.
The local CSC can be found through (https://locator.csccloud.in/).
Face-Authentication eKYC:
Get the PM-KISAN mobile app and the Aadhaar Face RD app from the Google Play Store.
Log in using the PM-KISAN registered mobile number.
Open “Beneficiary Status” page.
If eKYC status indicates “No”, click on eKYC.
Enter Aadhaar number and provide consent for face scan.
Complete the face scanning process through the camera of the phone to finish verification.
Verification of Application and eKYC Status
Both eKYC and registration status get updated within a period of 24 hours. Farmers are able to monitor their details via the PM-KISAN portal, the 'Know Your Status' (KYS) module, or through the use of the Kisan-eMitra chatbot on the mobile application.
Key Factors To Remember
Verified records are only available for landholding farmers.
Aadhaar-linked bank accounts are essential for entitlement to benefits.
New applicants must complete registration before the 21st instalment is credited.
Existing beneficiaries must complete eKYC to avoid delays in payment.
The PM-KISAN scheme has been a crucial support system for farming households since 2019. With the 21st instalment expected later this year, registration and timely eKYC will ensure that eligible farmers continue to receive benefits without interruption.
