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With Prime Minister Narendra Modi releasing over ₹18,640 crore this month as the 22nd installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM Kisan), more than 9.32 crore farmers have received financial assistance, of whom approximately 2.15 crore are women farmers. According to an official factsheet released on Thursday, the total amount disbursed to farmers since the inception of this scheme has now exceeded ₹4.27 lakh crore. With this milestone, PM-Kisan has emerged as one of the world's largest Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes.

**What is the Allocation in Budget 2026-27?**
The PM Kisan scheme is implemented through Aadhaar-based verification and digitized land records, ensuring that funds reach the intended beneficiaries directly and transparently. The government views this as a significant step towards honoring the 'Annadata' (food providers).
To bolster the income security of farmers, a provision of ₹60,000 crore has been allocated for this scheme in the Union Budget for 2026-27.

Farmers' Dependence on Debt Has Declined
According to assessments by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and NITI Aayog, this scheme has boosted farmers' agricultural income and reduced their reliance on informal sources of credit. Across various parts of the country, the PM-Kisan scheme has empowered farmers to invest in their farming operations and enhance productivity.
Bhamini, a farmer from Edakkara in Kerala, is a beneficiary of this scheme. She noted that the timely financial assistance she receives motivates her to improve her farming practices and boost her yield. The Direct Benefit Transfer system, which deposits funds directly into her bank account, ensures she receives assistance without any delays.

**Farmers' Conditions Are Improving**
For Anil Haldar, a farmer from Durgapur in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the annual assistance of ₹6,000 has proven to be immensely beneficial for his farming activities. After receiving an installment in August 2025, he initiated watermelon cultivation and utilized the funds to purchase essential farming supplies. This helped them diversify their crops.
Deepak Singh Negi, a farmer from Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir, also purchases essential agricultural inputs—such as seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides—with the assistance of this scheme. Consequently, both the quality and yield of his crops have improved.

When was it launched?
PM-KISAN is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that was launched in 2019. Its objective is to provide income support to land-holding farmer families across the country. Under this scheme, every eligible farmer family receives financial assistance of ₹6,000 annually, which is disbursed in three equal installments of ₹2,000, transferred directly into their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.