PM-KISAN 18th Installment to Be Released: What Farmers Need to Know

The 18th installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme is scheduled to be released on October 5, 2024. According to government reports, the initiative is expected to benefit over 9.5 crore farmers in India, each receiving a sum of Rs 2,000. The total allocation for this installment is Rs 20,000 crore.

Introduced in 2018, the PM-KISAN scheme provides financial assistance to small and marginal farmers across India. Eligible beneficiaries receive an annual grant of Rs 6,000, disbursed in three equal installments through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. The previous installment, distributed on June 18, 2024, reached approximately 9.25 crore farmers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to transfer the funds to over 9.4 crore farmers during a ceremony in Washim, Maharashtra, on the aforementioned date. The government initiative aims to support farmers with land holdings up to two hectares by offering crucial financial aid.

Farmers interested in checking their status or eligibility for the scheme should visit the official PM-KISAN website. To verify enrollment, they need to access the ‘Beneficiary List’ page and enter details such as their state, district, sub-district, block, and village. Upon selecting ‘Get Report,’ the inclusion of their name in the beneficiary list can be confirmed.

To verify their beneficiary status under the PM-KISAN scheme, farmers can also use the portal’s “Beneficiary Status” section. By entering either their Aadhaar or account number, they can access their payment status information.

Completion of the eKYC process is mandatory to continue receiving benefits under the scheme. There are three methods for farmers to complete their eKYC:

1. **OTP-based eKYC**: Requires an Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Farmers must log into the PM-KISAN portal, select ‘e-KYC,’ and enter their Aadhaar number. The process is completed by submitting an OTP sent to the registered mobile number.

2. **Biometric-based eKYC**: Available at over four lakh Common Service Centres (CSC) and State Seva Kendras (SSK) nationwide. Farmers need to visit these centers with their Aadhaar card and linked mobile number. A fee of Rs 15 is applicable for biometric verification.

3. **Face Authentication**: Farmers can complete this using their mobile phones by downloading the PM-KISAN mobile app and Aadhaar Face RD app. Following successful face scanning, the eKYC will be updated within 24 hours.