The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme from 2026–27 to 2030–31, committing ₹3.15 lakh crore to provide continued income support to eligible farmer families. Under the scheme, launched in February 2019, farmers receive ₹6,000 annually in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 through direct bank transfers.
In the latest, 23rd instalment released on June 20, 2026, nearly 9.44 crore farmers received more than ₹18,880 crore nationwide, including over 2.18 crore women farmers. Uttar Pradesh remained the largest beneficiary, with more than 2.2 crore farmers receiving ₹4,352 crore. The Centre says PM-KISAN has helped farmers make timely investments in seeds, fertilisers, irrigation and machinery while reducing reliance on informal credit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following the Cabinet decision, said the extension reflects the government’s commitment to the “empowerment and prosperity” of farmers.
₹4,352 Crore Reaches to Farmers
Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the biggest beneficiary of PM-KISAN, with the state’s vast farming population accounting for a significant share of each instalment. In the 23rd instalment, more than 2.2 crore farmers in the state received a combined ₹4,352 crore, equivalent to roughly ₹2,000 per beneficiary. The latest payment was part of more than ₹4.46 lakh crore that the Centre says has been transferred to farmers through 23 instalments since the scheme began.
A 2022 study by the Agro-Economic Research Centre at the University of Allahabad, sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, offers some insight into how the money is being used in Uttar Pradesh. It found that beneficiaries primarily spent the assistance on agricultural activities, including ploughing, seeds and fertilisers. Beneficiary households recorded a 9.85% increase in net farm income, while paddy and wheat yields were 3.08% and 1.93% higher respectively than among the comparison group. The study, however, also highlighted the limits of the assistance: ₹6,000 a year remains small compared with the broader cost of cultivation.
What The Extension Means For Farmers
PM-KISAN is designed as direct income support rather than a subsidy intended to cover the full cost of farming. Eligible landholding farmer families receive ₹2,000 every four months, with the money deposited directly into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. To receive the benefit, farmers must meet eligibility requirements, including having their land records seeded on the PM-KISAN portal, linking their bank accounts with Aadhaar and completing e-KYC verification.
The Centre argues that the regular payments help farmers manage cash-flow pressures during the agricultural cycle. According to a NITI Aayog evaluation cited by the government, more than 92% of beneficiaries reported using the assistance for agricultural activities or investment, while around 85% said it had improved agricultural income and reduced their dependence on informal credit. The government also says more than ₹1.06 lakh crore has gone to women farmers, with women accounting for nearly one in four beneficiaries.
The 23rd instalment was released in Tarakeswar, Hooghly, West Bengal, on June 20. Nearly 9.44 crore eligible farmers received the payment, including more than 2.18 crore women. The Centre has described PM-KISAN as one of the world’s largest Direct Benefit Transfer initiatives, with the system designed to reduce intermediaries and transfer assistance directly to beneficiaries.
The scheme’s continuation until 2030–31 means eligible farmers can expect the existing ₹6,000 annual support to remain in place, subject to the scheme’s eligibility and verification requirements. The Union Budget 2026–27 had separately allocated ₹60,000 crore for PM-KISAN.
A Safety Net, But Is It Enough?
PM-KISAN was launched in 2019 against the backdrop of persistent concerns around farm incomes, rising cultivation costs and rural indebtedness. Its strength lies in its scale and predictable nature: even a relatively small payment becomes significant when it reaches millions of households directly and repeatedly. The Centre says the scheme has enabled farmers to purchase essential inputs on time and strengthened rural financial security.
At the same time, the Uttar Pradesh study underlines an important distinction. The annual ₹6,000 payment is intended to supplement farm income, not meet the entire cost of cultivation. The study cited an estimated paid-out cultivation cost of about ₹9,500 per acre, illustrating why direct income support alone cannot address every financial pressure faced by farmers.
The continuation of PM-KISAN therefore comes alongside a wider need for affordable institutional credit, crop insurance, reliable irrigation, better market access, remunerative prices and measures that can make farming more resilient to climate and price shocks. The government has positioned PM-KISAN as one part of a broader farmer-support framework, rather than a standalone solution.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
PM-KISAN demonstrates the value of ensuring that public welfare reaches people directly, predictably and with dignity. For millions of farming families, ₹2,000 at the right time can help bridge an immediate gap between what a household needs and what it can afford. But supporting farmers must go beyond transferring money.
Sustainable agricultural livelihoods require fair markets, accessible credit, climate resilience, infrastructure and opportunities that allow rural communities to build long-term security. The extension until 2030–31 offers continuity, but it should also be an opportunity to ask whether India’s support systems are evolving alongside farmers’ changing realities. What more can governments, markets and communities do together to ensure that India’s farmers receive not just short-term support, but a genuinely secure and dignified livelihood?
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