What is PM Kisan Samman Nidhi?
PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a Central Sector Scheme launched on 24 February 2019 by the Government of India. Under this scheme, an income support of ₹6,000 per year is provided to all eligible farmer families across the country in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 every four months. The amount is directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
The scheme was initially meant only for small and marginal farmers with cultivable land up to 2 hectares, but was later extended to all farmer families irrespective of the size of their land holdings. This historic decision by the Government of India has made over 11 crore farmers eligible for the scheme across all states and union territories.
The entire funding for PM-KISAN is borne by the Central Government. Since its launch, the government has disbursed over ₹2.8 lakh crore to eligible farmers directly into their bank accounts. This makes it one of the largest direct benefit transfer schemes in the world.
Who is Eligible for PM Kisan?
All landholding farmer families who have cultivable land in their name are eligible for PM Kisan. A farmer family is defined as a family comprising of husband, wife and minor children who own cultivable land as per the land records of the concerned State/UT.
Important: The benefit is given per family, not per individual. If both husband and wife are farmers, they get only one ₹6,000 benefit together, not separately.
The following categories of people are NOT eligible even if they own farmland:
- Former and present holders of Constitutional posts (President, Vice President, Ministers, MPs, MLAs etc.)
- Former and present Ministers and State Ministers
- District Judges and above, High Court and Supreme Court Judges
- Retired/serving officers and employees of Central and State Government with monthly salary above ₹10,000
- All persons who paid income tax in the last assessment year
- Professionals like doctors, engineers, lawyers, chartered accountants registered with professional bodies
- Retired pensioners getting monthly pension of ₹10,000 or more
Required Documents for PM Kisan
To register for PM Kisan, you need the following documents. Make sure all documents are valid and up to date before applying:
- Aadhaar Card — Mandatory for all applicants. Aadhaar must be linked to your bank account
- Land Records / Khatoni — Proof of land ownership in your name. This includes Khatauni, Jamabandi, Patta, or any official land document
- Bank Passbook — Active bank account linked with Aadhaar. Account should not be dormant
- Mobile Number — Registered mobile number for OTP verification
- Caste Certificate — Required for SC/ST farmers in some states
How to Register for PM Kisan Online
- Visit the official PM Kisan portal at pmkisan.gov.in
- Click on "Farmer Corner" on the homepage
- Select "New Farmer Registration"
- Choose Rural or Urban Farmer as applicable
- Enter your Aadhaar Number and mobile number
- Enter the OTP received on your mobile number
- Fill in your personal details — name, date of birth, gender, category
- Enter your bank account details — account number, IFSC code
- Enter your land details — survey number, khasra number, area
- Upload required documents and submit
Tip: If you face difficulty registering online, visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) or Gram Panchayat. The registration is completely free — do not pay anyone to register for you.
How to Register for PM Kisan Offline
Farmers who do not have internet access or smartphones can register for PM Kisan through offline methods. Visit your nearest:
- Gram Panchayat / Patwari Office — Submit your application form with documents
- Common Service Centre (CSC) — CSC operators will help you register. Nominal fee of ₹20-30 may apply
- Agriculture Department Office — District or block level agriculture offices accept applications
- Revenue Department / Tehsil Office — Can assist with land record verification and registration
How to Check PM Kisan Payment Status
After registering, you can check whether your instalment has been released and credited to your account using these methods:
- Online: Go to pmkisan.gov.in → Farmer Corner → Beneficiary Status → Enter Aadhaar/Account/Mobile number
- SMS: Send SMS to check status. Details available on official portal
- Bank Passbook: Check your bank passbook or mini statement for credited amount
- PM Kisan App: Download the official PM Kisan Mobile App from Google Play Store
- Helpline: Call PM Kisan Helpline 155261 or 011-24300606
PM Kisan eKYC — Mandatory for Payments
The Government of India has made eKYC mandatory for receiving PM Kisan instalments. Without eKYC, your payment will be put on hold even if you are a valid beneficiary. There are three ways to complete eKYC:
- OTP-based eKYC: Visit pmkisan.gov.in → eKYC option → Enter Aadhaar and OTP received on Aadhaar-linked mobile
- Biometric eKYC: Visit nearest CSC centre. Fingerprint-based verification. Required if mobile is not linked to Aadhaar
- Face Authentication: Use the PM Kisan App for face-based eKYC verification
Warning: Many fake websites and agents claim to do PM Kisan registration for money. The official registration is completely FREE. Only use pmkisan.gov.in or official government offices.
Common Reasons for PM Kisan Rejection
Many valid farmers find their applications rejected. Here are the most common reasons and how to fix them:
- Aadhaar not linked to bank account: Visit your bank branch to link Aadhaar
- Name mismatch: Name in Aadhaar must match bank records and land records exactly
- Invalid IFSC code: Verify IFSC code of your bank branch
- Land records not updated: Get land records updated at Patwari/Revenue office
- eKYC pending: Complete eKYC on official portal
- Dormant bank account: Activate your account by doing a transaction
PM Kisan Instalment Schedule 2025
PM Kisan instalments are released three times a year. The approximate schedule is:
- 1st Instalment: April 1 to July 31
- 2nd Instalment: August 1 to November 30
- 3rd Instalment: December 1 to March 31
The exact dates vary each year. Follow official announcements at pmkisan.gov.in for exact release dates.