At precisely 10:19 AM UTC on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Narendra Modi stood on a modest stage in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and announced the release of the 21st installment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme—₹18,000 crore flowing directly into the bank accounts of nearly 90 million farming families across India. The moment wasn’t just bureaucratic. It was symbolic. He’d just wrapped up the South India Natural Farming Summit 2025, and the timing wasn’t accidental. This wasn’t merely cash in hand—it was policy in motion, tying financial support to sustainability.
How the Money Reaches the Fields
Every eligible farmer receives ₹2,000 this round, part of the annual ₹6,000 under the scheme launched on February 24, 2019. The disbursement happens via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), cutting out middlemen and ensuring the money lands where it’s meant to. Since its start, over ₹3.70 lakh crore has been transferred to more than 110 million farmer households. That’s not just a number—it’s a lifeline. In Uttar Pradesh, the largest beneficiary state, over 21.5 million families will get ₹4,314.26 crore in this single installment, pushing the state’s total PM-Kisan disbursements past ₹90,000 crore. And here’s something often overlooked: over 25% of all beneficiaries are women farmers. The scheme doesn’t just support agriculture—it empowers households.But here’s the catch: if your e-KYC isn’t done, the money won’t come. It’s that simple. The government says nearly 12% of pending payments are stalled because farmers haven’t completed biometric verification. That’s millions of families waiting. The fix? Go to pmkisan.gov.in—or better yet, walk into your nearest Common Service Center (CSC). No smartphone? No problem. CSCs are everywhere, even in remote villages. They’ve got the machines, the staff, and the patience.
Why Natural Farming Is the New Priority
While Modi spoke to a crowd of farmers and agri-entrepreneurs in Coimbatore, Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Maharashtra, watched live from the Agriculture College, Pune. He wasn’t just observing—he was participating. Accompanied by ACS Agriculture Vikas Chandra Rastogi and Agriculture Commissioner Suraj Mandhare, Devvrat personally honored farmers practicing natural farming. His message was clear: “The money helps you survive. But adopting natural farming helps you thrive.”It’s no coincidence that this installment dropped right after a summit focused on chemical-free agriculture. The government’s quietly shifting from subsidy dependency to resilience building. Natural farming reduces input costs—no synthetic fertilizers, no expensive pesticides. That means the ₹6,000 goes further. And for smallholders who spend nearly half their income on inputs, that’s transformative.
Who’s Still Left Behind?
The system works brilliantly—for those who can navigate it. But what about the elderly farmer in Odisha who doesn’t read? Or the widow in Jharkhand whose bank account isn’t linked to Aadhaar? The portal is user-friendly, yes. But digital literacy remains a barrier. NGOs like the Farmer’s Voice Network have reported that in seven states, over 18% of eligible farmers haven’t completed e-KYC due to lack of awareness. The government’s response? A new campaign called “PM-Kisan Saathi,” rolling out in December, where trained volunteers will visit 50,000 villages to help farmers complete registrations.And yet, the scale is staggering. India has 146 million operational holdings. The PM-Kisan scheme covers 110 million of them. That’s nearly 75% of all farming households. No other country has ever attempted such a massive, direct cash transfer to rural households at this scale. Even Brazil’s Bolsa Família, often cited as a global benchmark, reaches less than half as many people.
What Happens Next?
The 22nd installment is expected in March 2026—right before the kharif planting season. But whispers in Delhi suggest the government may soon raise the annual amount from ₹6,000 to ₹8,000, especially if the 2026 monsoon looks uncertain. Meanwhile, the portal is getting upgrades: farmers will soon be able to upload land records via WhatsApp, and receive SMS alerts when payments are processed. The goal? Zero delays. Zero confusion.Behind every ₹2,000 is a story. A child’s school fee. A mother’s medicine. A tractor’s repair. The scheme doesn’t just inject cash—it restores dignity. And in a country where agriculture still employs nearly half the workforce, that dignity is the foundation of stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a farmer check if their 21st PM-Kisan installment has been credited?
Farmers can log in to the official pmkisan.gov.in portal using their Aadhaar or mobile number, then navigate to the "Beneficiary Status" section. The portal shows real-time payment status—whether the amount is pending, processed, or credited. SMS alerts are also sent to registered numbers. If the status shows "failed," it usually means e-KYC or bank-Aadhaar linking is incomplete.
Why do some farmers miss out even though they’re eligible?
The most common reasons are unlinked bank accounts, incomplete Aadhaar seeding, or failed e-KYC verification. Many elderly farmers don’t know their bank details must match their Aadhaar exactly. Others face issues with name mismatches between land records and Aadhaar. The government has set up 1.2 million CSCs to assist, but awareness remains low in remote areas—especially in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.
Are women farmers receiving equal benefits under PM-Kisan?
Yes. The scheme explicitly recognizes women as primary beneficiaries if they’re listed as landowners or cultivators. Over 25% of all payments go to women-headed households, and in states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, that figure exceeds 30%. The portal allows women to register independently, even if their husband is listed on land records—a major shift from traditional land ownership norms.
What’s the difference between PM-Kisan and other farm subsidy schemes?
Unlike fertilizer or electricity subsidies, PM-Kisan gives cash directly to farmers without restrictions on usage. Farmers can spend it on seeds, school fees, medical bills, or even debt repayment. This flexibility makes it more effective than input-based subsidies, which often leak to intermediaries. It’s also universal—no income cap—so even large landholders qualify, though most benefits go to small and marginal farmers.
Has the scheme reduced farmer debt?
A 2024 study by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) found that households receiving full PM-Kisan payments were 22% less likely to take high-interest loans from moneylenders. In states like Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, rural debt levels dropped by 15% between 2020 and 2024. While it doesn’t solve structural issues, it acts as a financial buffer during crop failures or price crashes.
Will PM-Kisan continue beyond 2026?
The scheme is currently funded through the Union Budget and has been renewed annually since 2019. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman confirmed in the 2025-26 budget speech that PM-Kisan will continue “at least through 2029.” With over 110 million beneficiaries and strong political consensus, it’s now considered a permanent pillar of rural welfare—not a temporary relief measure.