PM-KISAN 18th Installment Released: Over 9.4 Crore Farmers to Receive Benefits

The Indian government has released the 18th installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on October 5, 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the release from Washim, Maharashtra, where more than ₹20,000 crore will be disbursed to over 9.4 crore beneficiary farmers, each receiving ₹2,000.

The PM-KISAN scheme is designed to support small and marginal farmers who own up to 2 hectares of land. The initiative provides an annual financial assistance of ₹6,000, distributed in three equal installments directly into the farmers’ bank accounts, making it one of the largest direct benefit transfer schemes globally.

According to the PM-KISAN official Twitter account, around 25 lakh new farmers have been added to the beneficiary list since the last installment, which was disbursed on June 18, 2024. During that payout, 9.25 crore farmers received the funds. Agriculturalists eagerly awaited this installment, hoping to receive the funds before the Diwali festival.

For farmers to continue receiving benefits under the PM-KISAN scheme, they are required to complete their eKYC process. The scheme necessitates that a farmer’s bank account is linked with their Aadhaar card, and land ownership must be verified by the authorities.

The official PM-KISAN website (pmkisan.gov.in) provides a platform for farmers to check their payment status, update their bank account details, and verify their eligibility. Farmers can visit the “Farmers Corner” section of the website to access these services.

PM Modi’s government has emphasized the welfare of farmers through this scheme, which was initially launched on December 1, 2018. The program is part of a larger effort to increase farmers’ incomes and strengthen the agricultural sector in India.