The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme for another five years, extending it from FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31. Along with the extension, the government has sanctioned a financial outlay of ₹3.15 lakh crore, reaffirming its commitment to providing direct income support to eligible farming families across the country.

The decision ensures that millions of farmers will continue to receive annual financial assistance under one of India's largest Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programmes.

What Is PM-KISAN?

Launched in February 2019, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi provides ₹6,000 per year to eligible farmer families.

The financial assistance is transferred directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts in three equal installments of ₹2,000 through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

The objective of the scheme is to help farmers meet agricultural expenses such as:

• Purchasing seeds.
• Buying fertilizers.
• Meeting irrigation costs.
• Investing in farm inputs and equipment.
• Supporting other cultivation-related activities.

₹3.15 Lakh Crore Approved for the Next Five Years

With the latest Cabinet approval, the scheme will continue until 2030–31 with a total approved expenditure of ₹3.15 lakh crore.

The extension is expected to:

• Continue direct financial support to eligible farmers.
• Improve liquidity before crop seasons.
• Reduce dependence on informal borrowing.
• Strengthen rural purchasing power.
• Support agricultural investment and productivity.

The government has stated that the scheme remains an important part of its efforts to improve farmers' income and strengthen the rural economy.

PM-KISAN by the Numbers

Since its launch, PM-KISAN has become one of India's largest technology-enabled welfare programmes.

According to official data:

• More than ₹4.47 lakh crore has been transferred to eligible beneficiaries through multiple installments.
• The 23rd installment benefited over 9.49 crore farmers, with more than ₹18,984 crore released through DBT.
• Women farmers have received over ₹1.06 lakh crore under the scheme.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than ₹1.71 lakh crore was transferred to support farming households.

These figures highlight the scale of the programme and its role in providing direct financial assistance to eligible beneficiaries.

Findings from NITI Aayog's Evaluation

An independent evaluation by the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) under NITI Aayog reported several positive outcomes associated with the scheme.

According to the evaluation:

• More than 92% of beneficiaries used the assistance for farming-related activities such as purchasing seeds, fertilizers, and other agricultural inputs.
• Around 85% reported improvements in agricultural income and a reduction in dependence on informal lenders.
• The assessment also noted improvements in cultivation, productivity, and foodgrain production during the evaluation period.

While these findings reflect the observations of the evaluation study, agricultural outcomes may vary across regions and individual farming conditions.

Digital Delivery Through DBT

PM-KISAN is implemented through a technology-driven system that relies on:

• Aadhaar-based verification.
• Digital beneficiary validation.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

The digital process is intended to reduce leakages, improve transparency, and ensure that financial assistance reaches eligible beneficiaries directly without intermediaries.

What This Means for Farmers

The extension provides long-term certainty for eligible beneficiaries, allowing them to continue receiving annual financial support over the next five years.

Farmers should ensure that:

• Their e-KYC is completed.
• Aadhaar is linked with their bank account.
• Land records are verified where required.
• Beneficiary details remain updated on the PM-KISAN portal.

Keeping records updated can help prevent delays in receiving future installments.

The Bottom Line

The Union Cabinet's decision to extend the PM-KISAN scheme until 2030–31, along with an approved ₹3.15 lakh crore budget, ensures the continuation of direct income support for eligible farmer families. Since its launch in 2019, the scheme has transferred more than ₹4.47 lakh crore to beneficiaries through DBT and has become one of India's largest farmer welfare programmes. Eligible farmers should continue maintaining updated records, including e-KYC and bank details, to receive future installments without interruption.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is based on official government announcements and publicly available information. Benefits under the PM-KISAN scheme are available only to eligible beneficiaries subject to the scheme's guidelines and verification process.