PM Releases 21st Kisan Samman Nidhi Kist for 9 Crore Farmers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has released the 21st Kisan Samman Nidhi Kist, transferring ₹18,000 crore directly to the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of nearly 9 crore farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme. The release took place at an event in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, offering timely income support ahead of the Rabi season.
What Is PM-KISAN and How the Kist Helps Farmers?
Launched on February 24, 2019, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme provides ₹6,000 per year to every eligible landholding farmer family. The amount is delivered through three Kisan Samman Nidhi Kist payments of ₹2,000 each, directly into bank accounts.
Till now, more than ₹3.70 lakh crore has been distributed to 11 crore farmer families, making it one of the world’s largest welfare DBT programs. Over 25% of the beneficiaries are women farmers, strengthening household financial stability.
Digital Systems Ensure Hassle-Free Kisan Samman Nidhi Kist Payments
PM-KISAN is powered by a strong digital infrastructure that keeps the system transparent and error-free. Key features include:
- Aadhaar-based e-KYC
- Automated land record verification
- Real-time updates via PM-KISAN portal
- Direct payments through PFMS
Farmers can self-register, track their kisan samman nidhi kist, check eligibility, and complete e-KYC entirely online.
Tech Tools Boost Scheme Outreach
To make the process easier, the PM-KISAN mobile app was updated in 2023 with facial authentication, enabling farmers to complete e-KYC and verify their kisan samman nidhi kist status remotely.
The Kisan-eMitra AI Chatbot, available in 11 regional languages, has already resolved over 95 lakh farmer queries related to registration, eligibility, and payments.
How More Farmers Are Being Added to PM-KISAN
During the Vikas Bharat Sankalp Yatra (2023), over one crore additional farmers were identified and added to the PM-KISAN database.
The government also aims to include 25 lakh more farmers in the first 100 days of the new administration formed in June 2024.
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of beneficiaries in the 20th installment, followed by Maharashtra.
Why Kisan Samman Nidhi Kist Matters to Small Farmers
More than 85% of Indian farmers own less than two hectares of land. For them, the kisan samman nidhi kist is an essential financial support system during sowing and harvesting seasons.
The scheme has helped:
- Reduce reliance on informal loans
- Improve cash flow during farm operations
- Strengthen financial resilience during tough periods
Monitoring and Transparency in Kist Distribution
The Central and State governments jointly monitor implementation to ensure accurate delivery of the kisan samman nidhi kist.
Beneficiary lists are displayed at village level for transparency, and States/UTs are responsible for recovering payments made to ineligible individuals. As of August 2025, ₹416 crore has been recovered.
National Farmers Registry to Make Kist Delivery Even Easier
To make welfare delivery smoother, the Agriculture Ministry is developing a National Farmers Registry—a unified digital database that will simplify access to government schemes and reduce repetitive paperwork.
This will make future kisan samman nidhi kist payments even more seamless.
