PM-KISAN’s 18th Installment: Financial Aid to Millions of Farmers

On October 5, 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the release of the 18th installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme from Washim, Maharashtra. Under this installment, more than 9.4 crore (94 million) beneficiary farmers across the country have received a direct transfer of over ₹20,000 crores into their bank accounts.

The PM-KISAN scheme is designed to provide financial assistance to farmers, specifically targeting small and marginal farmers across India who own up to two hectares of land. Annually, farmers receive ₹6,000 disbursed in three equal installments, each of ₹2,000, directly deposited into their bank accounts. The installment distributed this October marks a significant increase in beneficiaries, with approximately 25 lakh (2.5 million) new farmers added to the list since the previous installment on June 18, 2024.

Highlighting the objectives of the PM-KISAN scheme, the government aims to enhance farmers’ income and support them in acquiring essential agricultural inputs. This scheme is one of the world’s largest direct benefit transfer initiatives.

The process for farmers to verify the status of their PM-KISAN installments is straightforward. Beneficiaries can access the scheme’s official website, pmkisan.gov.in, and utilize the “Know Your Status” feature by entering their registration number and a captcha code to view their status.

To check their name in the beneficiary list, farmers need to navigate to the “Beneficiary List” section on the website, where they can input details such as state, district, block, and village to obtain a report. For assistance, farmers can contact helpline numbers 155261 or 011-24300606.

Completing an eKYC process is mandatory for farmers to receive their installments under the scheme. They can opt for an OTP-based eKYC online or visit nearby Common Service Centers (CSCs) for biometric verification. This verification step is crucial to prevent fraud and ensure the genuineness of beneficiaries.

Farmers interested in enrolling in the PM-KISAN scheme can visit the official website and submit their details via the “New Farmer Registration” portal. This enrollment requires an Aadhaar number and other relevant information. After verification, new applicants can access the benefits of this scheme.